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1176507	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	4/24/25, 3:54 AM	1712967248	1745484886		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187946	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972689		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187973	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		441520074943949	1	3.531516738431E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312348960041		nj.pseg.com	Learn more		NONE	video	1,000+ techs on call.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.video		1712951784	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435696933_3693659494182806_7020138006284419081_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VIommr84eUwAb5wdR_o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBECeesWt8C62mHv75-19siyQxdJygr76mLP99xyaakkQ&oe=661F85AB	person_profile	0					0	3	Appliance breakdowns got you down? With WorryFree Protection Plans, you get a huge fleet of experienced techs standing by.		PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188041	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188042	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1187892	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972690		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187957	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		830634192232801	1	7.2938647540633E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585892848		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956421	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435413566_392969886863533_199358440768604929_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G9rXrIgi4xkAb7R9d-w&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC4jdV4qgaRQczOgKanfsa0N78xJW7EOzpv-9zxwRQdFQ&oe=661F8F67	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435662394_768260098782859_6275020737785059050_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hqkYHl_Okp0Ab513BJ3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB86jbfmnxQ8XDDEq-IHPS6Q-n8vIDK1IPCAagmeqYGbQ&oe=661F99B8			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188047	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188108	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188115	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188116	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188123	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188128	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188130	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188149	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967495	1723972690		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188155	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967502	1723972690		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188158	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967506	1723972690		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188165	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967514	1723972690		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188168	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972690		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188170	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972690		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188175	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972690		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188176	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972690		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1187007	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967455	1723972690		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
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1187966	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		1376403429740759	1	1.6099407265088E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585894248		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-petal-pusher-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956419	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885844_805250394803261_491379009023456011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOjs7B92QuIAb7nR2KS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_fijY_aDDU_jrEiI_xfSZEOHsn090s5aan9Ok5_hx4w&oe=661F9EDE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436470209_912038517276458_3006550959159813641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vK2SpJE0rDIAb4HCaq5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA6kd9zdICngAL3j8b0Wph4bC2VKrAjBZrlJMrBmn0wEQ&oe=661FB3C0			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187977	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187981	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1187985	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972690		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1187993	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972690		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1188072	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972690		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188102	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188103	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188107	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188109	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188114	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188117	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188122	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188124	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188127	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188143	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972690		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188144	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972690		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188145	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972690		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188147	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967493	1723972690		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188152	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967499	1723972690		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188153	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967500	1723972690		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188154	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967501	1723972690		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188156	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967503	1723972690		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188163	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967512	1723972690		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188164	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967513	1723972690		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188169	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972690		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188174	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972690		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188180	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967520	1723972690		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188181	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967521	1723972690		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188182	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967522	1723972690		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188183	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967524	1723972690		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188184	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967526	1723972690		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188186	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967530	1723972690		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188194	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972690		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186333	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972690		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188073	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972690		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187903	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972690		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187932	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972690		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1188018	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1188036	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1188037	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1188039	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		379270718294139	1	7.4703713420808E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	241155789412943		0	Inland Valley Recovery Services			120206695304000591		www.inlandvalleyrecovery.org	Contact us		NONE	video	Your Road To Recovery Starts Here	Break free from addiction.	https://www.inlandvalleyrecovery.org/		1710394723	2.4115578941294E+14	Inland Valley Recovery Services	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431869361_348072008207042_2220250795207324178_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L_4M81xQENoAb7NTT_k&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBCTKlj8K-cKcDdY0QYB-zDHKtq_VpdzK8DSSBWwsHLkg&oe=661F833B	person_profile	0	Inland Valley Recovery	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430738651_330975669947882_1433483430364268567_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xiTjBhD9_dQAb7E5JKJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfChHltM8ncq_NpJe_FpWosAfRYGTKq2tgZds2ZrD8HSYA&oe=661FA0F3			0	3	Are you or someone you love battling a fentanyl addiction? You're not alone. We are ready to help you.		Inland Valley Recovery Services		2175	https://facebook.com/InlandValleyRecoveryServices	0		CONTACT_US						1710486000		View Edit Delete
1188045	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188068	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188086	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188104	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188150	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967496	1723972691		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188203	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972691		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1187920	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972691		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187923	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972691		505		1433446537583673		1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340264690685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711115986	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432766660_834573728492230_2653119024926142613_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LBX4QLegLOUAb6-F4bh&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKZ_oTjJLNEzVqUOoAKjY7rcr0sCLd7Wien2H32uU9wQ&oe=661F82F7	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432759016_931550481678887_4364584942862825225_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gYqxsoR__HwAb5r_TAK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDfkT-II0QZjBODXB2xwj-sDJQEUCXtdcs3Fz5jgJjjBw&oe=661F8EA7			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1187926	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972691		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187942	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972691		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1187943	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972691		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187944	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972691		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187947	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972691		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187950	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187952	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187954	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		1108849420326568	1	9.6223357200576E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586032648		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/mindy-sweater-midi/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956446	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437484502_738324704819173_5160908027024819248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwSSoODS3pMAb6JNRpS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA89UmMfqvuWTT16XhmZEyexzbD_-oXHld5txGPf-XxFA&oe=661F8E95	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437665887_727355032904993_5452027151206115832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JOql7n9ykjIAb7MWtdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjLacz9z7h03gcbYAAyPddLRRDSORy6fqm1saRBIeLdQ&oe=661FB411			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187956	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		830634192232801	1	7.2938647540633E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585892848		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956421	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435413566_392969886863533_199358440768604929_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G9rXrIgi4xkAb7R9d-w&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC4jdV4qgaRQczOgKanfsa0N78xJW7EOzpv-9zxwRQdFQ&oe=661F8F67	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435662394_768260098782859_6275020737785059050_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hqkYHl_Okp0Ab513BJ3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB86jbfmnxQ8XDDEq-IHPS6Q-n8vIDK1IPCAagmeqYGbQ&oe=661F99B8			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187960	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		921897479619033	1	1.4607058348308E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585967448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-ever-had-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956431	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437550218_1866550143776000_2615491418669840649_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-WaoxvngSNEAb7V7d65&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCvp6RVRzCMzAD6O8ubM0bbOAinj_qPAv3bcfwe8n9dLw&oe=661F8432	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922056_2000711553677902_6397388021243872833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0vZfscJBGQ0Ab567UK_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbK4z9fk04AOa2SRHSFqCyhnGbNl3IgaT7KxPOF5Y4Ng&oe=661F8C7C			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187961	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		921897479619033	1	1.4607058348308E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585967448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-ever-had-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956431	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437550218_1866550143776000_2615491418669840649_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-WaoxvngSNEAb7V7d65&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCvp6RVRzCMzAD6O8ubM0bbOAinj_qPAv3bcfwe8n9dLw&oe=661F8432	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922056_2000711553677902_6397388021243872833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0vZfscJBGQ0Ab567UK_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbK4z9fk04AOa2SRHSFqCyhnGbNl3IgaT7KxPOF5Y4Ng&oe=661F8C7C			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187962	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187964	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187968	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		1466728833917035	1	1.1461219468319E+15		1712905200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	277613742096779		0	SimpleCheck			120206658350740464		fb.me	Learn more		NONE	video	🦷 "It's like x-ray vision for patient financing" 🦷🧑‍⚕️🪥		http://fb.me/		1712951455	2.7761374209678E+14	SimpleCheck	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437936314_1887947198292419_987258337334747092_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jTFZIyuZ62sAb47E5C_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBwfWP2fw7K838kz2C3HnJX5OhwNHLM1MyxouasvRt49Q&oe=661F9958	person_profile	0	SimpleCheck	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437893836_1153632112318284_5086001434904099599_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2br14vUVSrYAb52aIDp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBMTRjvOhe_zA8_3CtVmqBTv-iDGlgG79_OnUZNraRFVg&oe=661F8AEE			0	3	🦷 Dentists &amp; Office Managers! Patient financing without SimpleCheck is like shooting in the dark...<br /> <br /> Where missing the mark by even an inch costs you thousands...<br /> <br /> Hidden fees, unclear terms, and frankly wasting precious time with patients who can&#039;t qualify for 💩.<br /> <br /> But with SimpleCheck, it&#039;s like having x-ray vision.<br /> <br /> To be clear, you DON&#039;T need another financing provider - and we&#039;re NOT one!<br /> <br /> As the first and only unbiased, data-driven, pre-qualification tool, we are democratizing patient financing by being your &quot;first look&quot; - and here&#039;s why:<br /> <br /> With just a patient&#039;s name and address, we&#039;re able to instantly determine the best of your current patient financing providers with a soft-pull that has no impact on your patients&#039; credit scores.<br /> <br /> This means you&#039;ll know EXACTLY which companies your patient will qualify for...<br /> <br /> Along with the cost to your practice (Where it&#039;s likely you could save 50% or more on processing fees)<br /> <br /> And the cost to your patient (Where they too can likely save 50% or more by avoiding predatory hidden interest terms)<br /> <br /> Let&#039;s face it...<br /> <br /> Trying to navigate patient financing blindfolded can lead to costly mistakes.<br /> <br /> But SimpleCheck allows you to see through the confusion and always make the best decision.<br /> <br /> We&#039;ve gathered all your financing options in one place, making it easy to compare and choose the right one.<br /> <br /> Ready to experience the future of patient financing?<br /> <br /> Get 3 FREE credits when you sign up for SimpleCheck today!		SimpleCheck		3	https://facebook.com/simplecheckai	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187969	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187978	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		443553624849422	1	3.2602627050769E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	894657667405620		0	Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County			120207594938430724					NONE	image					1712942344	8.9465766740562E+14	Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436150759_941920704177363_3164995723504870130_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4uBdu2qA-lAAb57NTSB&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD5c7IUOOhr4fj84jtB5HS5xi23TJ9sYkstxfriowpdaQ&oe=661F8E08	person_profile	0	Smoke-Free Marion County	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435945856_7351496594968042_5833205963934579741_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WqvQ1Wf2VUgAb763VaR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCn2hS0_O9bQoypmnUQpRCkHzDHhLlbeOAPd6pIsY41Bg&oe=661F9F49			0	3	Implementing smoke-free policies has proven to be a game-changer in improving public health.💪 By creating smoke-free environments in workplaces, restaurants, bars, and public spaces, we&#039;re not only protecting non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke but also encouraging smokers to quit or reduce their smoking habits.<br /> <br /> 📉 Studies have shown that smoke-free policies lead to significant reductions in smoking rates, lower rates of heart disease♥️ , respiratory illnesses, and even fewer hospital admissions due to smoking-related conditions. <br /> <br /> Let&#039;s continue to advocate for and support #smokefree policies to promote better public health outcomes and create environments where everyone can breathe easier and live healthier lives. Together, we can make a positive impact on the well-being of our communities! 🚭👥 <br /> <br /> #HealthyKY #HealthyMarionCounty		Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County		1006	https://facebook.com/SmokeFreeMarionCo	0								1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187982	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1187983	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1187984	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1187986	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1188216	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967536	1723972690		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187987	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1187988	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1187989	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1187990	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1187991	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1187992	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1187994	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1187995	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1187996	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1187997	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
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1188219	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967540	1723972690		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188000	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188001	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188004	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188007	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188011	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
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1188021	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1188023	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1188025	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1188030	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		1483272105880448	1	1.4917145147154E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	123761154145420		0	SphereBuilder Community - BAL			120207641959520097		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Mark Milligan	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/HTqXJi/13295		1712776407	1.2376115414542E+14	SphereBuilder Community - BAL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435683197_1094891265109097_5147759821480122927_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DmusYmwtoRgAb6EBnXB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCNqVF5qNK0vEKY2e0syPqge0y4ryKp_Ht1WlOars5llA&oe=661F9C72	person_profile	0	SphereBuilder Community - BAL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437357364_6191974107594431_1362683804103847386_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cjbarMfTmNAAb6bjrgg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-a-NF79MLlXlnTYfNalqhRPnlmGv9WHLivVvsjLgwlw&oe=661F9176			0	3	Recently sold in 21409! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - BAL		10	https://facebook.com/spherebuilderbal	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1188032	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		406674325447079	1	1.4923406246803E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	114588168402434		0	SphereBuilder Community - PHL			120208588281550312		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Pat Harvey	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/ICLOEi/11249		1712317250	1.1458816840243E+14	SphereBuilder Community - PHL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434845991_435240882356265_379903722610712780_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5bfFgWKElyYAb48ityy&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDFqTBySTU7tCAo0pFA8Dq5gItCRBJ_RWyUjoTpzgCFRw&oe=661FA65E	person_profile	0		https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435921161_793562162650923_7830730189007579871_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y9Gyukt2uVkAb5KMLm_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAsHLs14440r7ZCy08sDvHHud40flhAqp3sKV692MajrQ&oe=661F98F1			0	3	Recently sold in 19382! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - PHL		11	https://facebook.com/spherebuilderphl	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1188051	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188054	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188056	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188058	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188061	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188063	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188064	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188066	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188067	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188069	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188070	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188075	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188077	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188078	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188080	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188084	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188235	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967552	1723972690		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1188085	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188087	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188088	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188090	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188092	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188093	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188094	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188095	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188098	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188100	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188101	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188111	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188148	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967494	1723972691		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188162	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967510	1723972691		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188188	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967530	1723972691		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188189	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967530	1723972691		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188190	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972691		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
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"You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188192	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972691		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188193	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972691		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188195	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972691		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188196	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188197	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188198	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188199	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188200	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188201	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188202	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188204	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1176314	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972690		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1188205	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188207	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188208	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188210	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188212	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967532	1723972692		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188213	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967533	1723972692		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188215	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967535	1723972692		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188217	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967537	1723972692		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188218	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967539	1723972692		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188220	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967541	1723972692		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188222	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967543	1723972692		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188224	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967543	1723972692		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
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"You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188230	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967546	1723972692		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1188232	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967548	1723972692		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1188237	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967554	1723972692		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
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1188238	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967555	1723972692		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1188239	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967556	1723972692		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188240	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967557	1723972692		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1176548	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972692		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176275	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972692		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176291	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972692		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176551	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972690		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176299	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972692		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176325	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972692		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176347	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972692		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176397	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972692		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176422	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972692		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1176449	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972692		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176486	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972692		505		1108849420326568	1	9.6223357200576E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586032648		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/mindy-sweater-midi/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956446	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437484502_738324704819173_5160908027024819248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwSSoODS3pMAb6JNRpS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA89UmMfqvuWTT16XhmZEyexzbD_-oXHld5txGPf-XxFA&oe=661F8E95	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437665887_727355032904993_5452027151206115832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JOql7n9ykjIAb7MWtdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjLacz9z7h03gcbYAAyPddLRRDSORy6fqm1saRBIeLdQ&oe=661FB411			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176504	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972692		505		921897479619033	1	1.4607058348308E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585967448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-ever-had-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956431	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437550218_1866550143776000_2615491418669840649_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-WaoxvngSNEAb7V7d65&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCvp6RVRzCMzAD6O8ubM0bbOAinj_qPAv3bcfwe8n9dLw&oe=661F8432	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922056_2000711553677902_6397388021243872833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0vZfscJBGQ0Ab567UK_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbK4z9fk04AOa2SRHSFqCyhnGbNl3IgaT7KxPOF5Y4Ng&oe=661F8C7C			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176574	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972692		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176603	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972692		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1176651	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972692		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176665	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972692		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176687	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972692		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176705	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972692		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176732	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972692		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1176635	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972690		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176750	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972692		505		225317477305852	1	1.0927243117802E+15		1712905200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	232263819969043		0	Northern Michigan Regional Entity			120208704833530222		drugfreenorthernmichigan.net	Contact us		NONE	image	Take The First Step Towards A Brighter Future	Break free from the bet.	https://www.drugfreenorthernmichigan.net/education-awareness/gambling.html		1712084250	2.3226381996904E+14	Northern Michigan Regional Entity	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434455004_828695165761950_2107849835655896905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0RTwRLp7ELIAb6sW1X_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfChjA_wHzadFHNwFwckTJHLfSSU9EJv4mifi_9Nf7zQNQ&oe=661F95A2	person_profile	0	Northern Michigan Regional Ent	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592496_1008484914051427_4155198943189880564_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GLP7eN1kFS4Ab6aK4uM&_nc_oc=Adg_GnCS90ZNtf4I57mRJ6yYYm4j2j5LalF2yi3kEP4BaIAZnw6pGtekOmo4T7t7ldU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAerZu2NIBtY8WbAnFwAwMB-pK9fXPYQwAflBr1cKtQfA&oe=661FAC38			0	3	Seek help from the MDHHS helpline to quit your gambling addiction. Their dedicated team is here to provide the aid you need!		Northern Michigan Regional Entity		5	https://facebook.com/61556001462885	0		CONTACT_US						1712559600		View Edit Delete
1176801	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972692		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176817	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972692		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176847	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176852	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176865	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176893	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176913	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176935	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176946	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176963	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176724	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972690		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176972	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176976	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176980	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176985	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176991	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176996	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176999	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177001	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177004	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177008	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177010	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177029	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177034	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177040	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177046	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177052	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177057	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177062	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177068	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177077	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177148	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967257	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177244	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967259	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177434	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967263	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177479	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967264	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177533	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967266	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177596	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967267	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177654	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967268	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177717	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967270	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177830	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967272	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177977	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967274	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178038	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967276	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178094	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967277	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178155	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967279	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178232	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967280	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178289	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178291	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178298	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178302	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178305	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178307	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178310	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178312	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178313	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178315	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178367	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967283	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178425	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967284	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178494	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967285	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178543	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967287	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178607	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967288	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178675	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967289	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178915	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178918	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1178921	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1178937	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178946	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178963	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178971	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178977	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178983	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178990	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178998	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1179119	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967298	1723972693		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179232	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967300	1723972693		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179341	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967303	1723972693		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179542	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967307	1723972693		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179547	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967307	1723972693		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1179554	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967307	1723972693		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1179683	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967310	1723972693		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1179763	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967312	1723972693		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1179838	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967315	1723972693		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1179978	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967318	1723972693		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1180111	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967325	1723972693		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1180156	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967328	1723972693		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185798	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967418	1723972693		505		2056673278052074	1	3.969055966053E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210420275240230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Barefoot shoes for better health 😍	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5	https://www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons		1712836063	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435989606_931696965625122_375407036027608490_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IhgFxl2_zkoAb7vS8yS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCz4_8O14WtXJa4C2v0fZjmGdC6GWUx1f3INv06UP64hQ&oe=661FB0B5	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435895720_1119730055941904_8740639153972041351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hFPK8XdpuGEAb4fmhTE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDw8cZ-5LRgp8IJCqIVEStwDlVlne_2DGzDHc6diX77Jw&oe=661FB292			0	3	Goodbye foot pain! Hello all-day comfort.. ☁️👣<br /> <br /> ✅ Walk and move pain-free!<br /> ✅ Recommended by orthopaedists<br /> ✅ 30 days money-back guarantee<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fpages%2F7-reasons&amp;h=AT0Pw8yayCcEM4YvHPW4N6ulU4VysyjXIdqSK8nWrXDSoNUZT1aR4RFbZzQTPSiTo3kkIgDMQAaVcmeVdA14Me4qiljZZdmF27ksJzY_Sp9VsoW4p57GNyTvbQCdrrZhEPzieJpRihb2JvohBmhn9Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185808	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972693		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185815	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972693		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185818	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972693		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185831	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972693		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185838	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972693		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1177037	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972690		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185848	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972693		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185857	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972693		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185866	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972693		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185876	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972693		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185882	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972693		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185892	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972693		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185906	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972693		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185915	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185926	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		3505336949778565		1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340266300685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711116526	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433475337_1492928794588595_3772129735441044432_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kow5FrRwiOkAb5qKIJh&_nc_oc=Adhk2HVQ1qIofsKgR0U7Yxgf462lzojnRDdstTb8pZ8zh6BEBMXHbVq3sOLLP7WwKr8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCijf9BmOLDZicQ710ltsYJfXoVG4dl6lfSBLxo6CcbCQ&oe=661FA35F	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433443683_891688346088503_8992721139677055626_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ruJWnY8uQXAAb5ZOl3_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCSZYB5C1AuIwL3SYPTZlTuRjT3qZajNaTmgvclcQL4sg&oe=661FA47B			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1185934	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185938	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185950	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1185961	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1185968	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186010	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972693		505		921897479619033	1	1.4607058348308E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585967448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-ever-had-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956431	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437550218_1866550143776000_2615491418669840649_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-WaoxvngSNEAb7V7d65&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCvp6RVRzCMzAD6O8ubM0bbOAinj_qPAv3bcfwe8n9dLw&oe=661F8432	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922056_2000711553677902_6397388021243872833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0vZfscJBGQ0Ab567UK_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbK4z9fk04AOa2SRHSFqCyhnGbNl3IgaT7KxPOF5Y4Ng&oe=661F8C7C			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186038	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972693		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186060	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972693		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1186062	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972693		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1186066	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972693		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1186090	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1186093	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186095	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186097	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186099	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186102	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186104	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186107	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186109	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186112	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186115	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186118	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186120	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186173	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1186157	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		1483272105880448	1	1.4917145147154E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	123761154145420		0	SphereBuilder Community - BAL			120207641959520097		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Mark Milligan	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/HTqXJi/13295		1712776407	1.2376115414542E+14	SphereBuilder Community - BAL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435683197_1094891265109097_5147759821480122927_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DmusYmwtoRgAb6EBnXB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCNqVF5qNK0vEKY2e0syPqge0y4ryKp_Ht1WlOars5llA&oe=661F9C72	person_profile	0	SphereBuilder Community - BAL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437357364_6191974107594431_1362683804103847386_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cjbarMfTmNAAb6bjrgg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-a-NF79MLlXlnTYfNalqhRPnlmGv9WHLivVvsjLgwlw&oe=661F9176			0	3	Recently sold in 21409! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - BAL		10	https://facebook.com/spherebuilderbal	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1186126	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186129	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186134	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186171	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1186136	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186138	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186140	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186142	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186146	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186148	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186149	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186150	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186151	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186152	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186153	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186155	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186159	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		870702304861895	1	9.6558574861222E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	114970411603490		0	SphereBuilder Community - GWA			120209459458480247		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Chenise E. Hinds	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/5mI2d6/12469		1712452343	1.1497041160349E+14	SphereBuilder Community - GWA	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435957540_1125875141884078_2593542428121257718_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LeOicIbfTMUAb4fseki&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCqKPZLSL0x6jppdrWQSEvtDZlFk5NueUsPz3GGyBDHJQ&oe=661F8EC3	person_profile	0	SphereBuilder Community - GWA	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982165_2181782945491565_9021816782525270015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=p40PlIFNARcAb5nGOKe&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCtTQoi250y0FZtx_LFwd6JFcqvnHtDsZ9K2S9-8a43HA&oe=661FAB48			0	3	Recently sold in Summit Creek, Clinton, MD! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - GWA		16	https://facebook.com/spherebuildergwa	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186161	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		406674325447079	1	1.4923406246803E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	114588168402434		0	SphereBuilder Community - PHL			120208588281550312		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Pat Harvey	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/ICLOEi/11249		1712317250	1.1458816840243E+14	SphereBuilder Community - PHL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434845991_435240882356265_379903722610712780_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5bfFgWKElyYAb48ityy&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDFqTBySTU7tCAo0pFA8Dq5gItCRBJ_RWyUjoTpzgCFRw&oe=661FA65E	person_profile	0		https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435921161_793562162650923_7830730189007579871_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y9Gyukt2uVkAb5KMLm_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAsHLs14440r7ZCy08sDvHHud40flhAqp3sKV692MajrQ&oe=661F98F1			0	3	Recently sold in 19382! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - PHL		11	https://facebook.com/spherebuilderphl	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186163	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		225317477305852	1	1.0927243117802E+15		1712905200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	232263819969043		0	Northern Michigan Regional Entity			120208704833530222		drugfreenorthernmichigan.net	Contact us		NONE	image	Take The First Step Towards A Brighter Future	Break free from the bet.	https://www.drugfreenorthernmichigan.net/education-awareness/gambling.html		1712084250	2.3226381996904E+14	Northern Michigan Regional Entity	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434455004_828695165761950_2107849835655896905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0RTwRLp7ELIAb6sW1X_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfChjA_wHzadFHNwFwckTJHLfSSU9EJv4mifi_9Nf7zQNQ&oe=661F95A2	person_profile	0	Northern Michigan Regional Ent	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592496_1008484914051427_4155198943189880564_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GLP7eN1kFS4Ab6aK4uM&_nc_oc=Adg_GnCS90ZNtf4I57mRJ6yYYm4j2j5LalF2yi3kEP4BaIAZnw6pGtekOmo4T7t7ldU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAerZu2NIBtY8WbAnFwAwMB-pK9fXPYQwAflBr1cKtQfA&oe=661FAC38			0	3	Seek help from the MDHHS helpline to quit your gambling addiction. Their dedicated team is here to provide the aid you need!		Northern Michigan Regional Entity		5	https://facebook.com/61556001462885	0		CONTACT_US						1712559600		View Edit Delete
1186165	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		394272036808539	1	7.6477841574865E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	57941978569		0	eCYBERMISSION			120208070941880752		www.ecybermission.com	Learn more		NONE	video	eCYBERMISSION STEM Competition	Level up your STEM curriculum with eCYBERMISSION's free, 6-9 grade STEM competition	https://www.ecybermission.com/jointhemission/?utm_source=external&utm_medium=Meta&utm_campaign=Meta		1712848196	57941978569	eCYBERMISSION	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435268780_1466870747538285_5098525439305937829_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sJz6zylTxXMAb4jhiF_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6sQqUkUaetEzr6lWYPQUSgKGDXk6k4xh9Re7zqxizdQ&oe=661FABB9	person_profile	0	eCYBERMISSION	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435387793_743075451366846_4646950176731595421_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VEuKUGTIOhQAb5v6Hml&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBGT4dPvLO0M_L2WOOedQpR7GUatmlmYSnd6nn8EmCZZQ&oe=661FA88D			0	3	Teachers, isn&#039;t it time someone did the work for YOU? eCYBERMISSION makes teaching STEM simple.		eCYBERMISSION		2592	https://facebook.com/GOeCYBER	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186169	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1186176	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		379270718294139	1	7.4703713420808E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	241155789412943		0	Inland Valley Recovery Services			120206695304000591		www.inlandvalleyrecovery.org	Contact us		NONE	video	Your Road To Recovery Starts Here	Break free from addiction.	https://www.inlandvalleyrecovery.org/		1710394723	2.4115578941294E+14	Inland Valley Recovery Services	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431869361_348072008207042_2220250795207324178_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L_4M81xQENoAb7NTT_k&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBCTKlj8K-cKcDdY0QYB-zDHKtq_VpdzK8DSSBWwsHLkg&oe=661F833B	person_profile	0	Inland Valley Recovery	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430738651_330975669947882_1433483430364268567_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xiTjBhD9_dQAb7E5JKJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfChHltM8ncq_NpJe_FpWosAfRYGTKq2tgZds2ZrD8HSYA&oe=661FA0F3			0	3	Are you or someone you love battling a fentanyl addiction? You&#039;re not alone. We are ready to help you.		Inland Valley Recovery Services		2175	https://facebook.com/InlandValleyRecoveryServices	0		CONTACT_US						1710486000		View Edit Delete
1186192	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186194	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186199	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186201	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186205	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186210	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186212	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186214	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186216	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186218	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186220	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186222	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186224	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1178743	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967290	1723972690		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
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1186241	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186246	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186250	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186257	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1178933	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972690		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186265	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186273	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186281	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186283	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186285	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186287	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186297	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186301	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186305	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186313	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186321	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186329	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186337	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186343	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186347	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972694		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186351	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972694		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186353	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972694		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186359	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972694		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186361	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972694		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186377	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972694		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186402	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972694		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186510	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967433	1723972694		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186603	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967438	1723972694		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186698	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967443	1723972694		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186801	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967448	1723972694		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185797	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967418	1723972690		505		415149981465103	1	1.4443372428513E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210420276170230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Barefoot shoes for better health 😍	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5	https://www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons		1712836063	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437039026_782456030483519_269523748945559023_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JTtFV0KMcqIAb54kmOW&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0cM3iOcfg5HwrFNI83_BFGTy2u1XEImqhZvFykFyF1Q&oe=661FAF58	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436426472_258117650625270_6744857001494245429_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y7R7V-FtgPYAb4Wd4Jt&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDyXJK-zgHgQsDuWyJ1cfcNYeIWKqLgniHAGbwKrxF2uw&oe=661F85B0			0	3	Goodbye foot pain! Hello all-day comfort.. ☁️👣<br /> <br /> ✅ Walk and move pain-free!<br /> ✅ Recommended by orthopaedists<br /> ✅ 30 days money-back guarantee<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fpages%2F7-reasons&amp;h=AT2t3fdfHDdO5Uh0Mcop392u9FUaeEFKDUzaXwbjLUeKtX_G6xj0_QR4Itr-KC5mpts3lRICnXwBUkU2Iw0S_NLxeXwCW5ECHeNctuCiE_xhAtg7NSNPpRiCFaWCyD_8zbDrRILKyWQTreOd8qIFGg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1176263	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	1/25/25, 9:45 AM	1712967244	1737819929		505		1364327780938962	1	7.9241866612117E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421450520230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837744	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437398719_1070712884230021_793036756716192886_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IjFqhE2BS4kAb5xlz1F&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDn1Ax1rhgNoT3c9Xg4Gj1pMP58STyIAmIx6iqXmudeEg&oe=661FA802	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434020021_1222860978684523_6250263428203117700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W0qrICe6YsYAb7n3AL7&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAapMDjAhPw1t7Wm4Q1mSrt71baGAjZwXMvk8RUl9oyrA&oe=661F9D4E			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2PuYxT1ZfkUKrVvHfFcqhCbPgioTwK5-OT3tJh2fVQTz_5qEH3qzEiQMbWtyrWdk-fBrTgDokwYpvHQZf4LAO8-uIh4BUIk8gQD7Ki7KBwNgQTjHAD47zoCYkCYhLuxoldsrycXCAkxJnQqTAWOQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185825	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972690		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176270	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972694		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176273	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972694		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176283	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972694		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176289	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972694		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176290	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972694		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176293	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972694		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176296	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972694		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176304	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972694		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176308	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972694		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176310	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972694		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176317	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972694		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185930	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972690		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176322	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972694		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176327	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176330	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176333	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176338	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176341	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176344	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176353	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176356	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176364	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176368	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1186050	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972690		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176372	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176374	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		793146902699782	6	1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340264730685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711116031	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432067347_1063576474745018_724497605306183776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sJ8xozyyWl8Ab4NBwB8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCSZ6_CSm4IJeANrfcGpixAHZ1xwCCtoJ3MUCtocamJTg&oe=661FA06C	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432063006_408226161794850_4398130670109671840_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3SANrAQcrwAb5t6bir&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDETWgeaaLVr-qIVlhrpdumPW1-vZ19cUApPohsjL6WzQ&oe=661FAC05			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712646000		View Edit Delete
1176394	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176395	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176400	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176402	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176405	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1176407	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1176410	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1176412	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1176414	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1176416	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1176424	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1176427	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1176481	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	2/7/25, 1:07 AM	1712967248	1738912031		505		1108849420326568	1	9.6223357200576E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586032648		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/mindy-sweater-midi/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956446	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437484502_738324704819173_5160908027024819248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwSSoODS3pMAb6JNRpS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA89UmMfqvuWTT16XhmZEyexzbD_-oXHld5txGPf-XxFA&oe=661F8E95	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437665887_727355032904993_5452027151206115832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JOql7n9ykjIAb7MWtdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjLacz9z7h03gcbYAAyPddLRRDSORy6fqm1saRBIeLdQ&oe=661FB411			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176459	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176467	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176476	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176479	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176483	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		1108849420326568	1	9.6223357200576E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586032648		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/mindy-sweater-midi/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956446	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437484502_738324704819173_5160908027024819248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwSSoODS3pMAb6JNRpS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA89UmMfqvuWTT16XhmZEyexzbD_-oXHld5txGPf-XxFA&oe=661F8E95	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437665887_727355032904993_5452027151206115832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JOql7n9ykjIAb7MWtdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjLacz9z7h03gcbYAAyPddLRRDSORy6fqm1saRBIeLdQ&oe=661FB411			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176495	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		830634192232801	1	7.2938647540633E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585892848		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956421	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435413566_392969886863533_199358440768604929_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G9rXrIgi4xkAb7R9d-w&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC4jdV4qgaRQczOgKanfsa0N78xJW7EOzpv-9zxwRQdFQ&oe=661F8F67	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435662394_768260098782859_6275020737785059050_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hqkYHl_Okp0Ab513BJ3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB86jbfmnxQ8XDDEq-IHPS6Q-n8vIDK1IPCAagmeqYGbQ&oe=661F99B8			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176509	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176512	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176517	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		1376403429740759	1	1.6099407265088E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585894248		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-petal-pusher-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956419	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885844_805250394803261_491379009023456011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOjs7B92QuIAb7nR2KS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_fijY_aDDU_jrEiI_xfSZEOHsn090s5aan9Ok5_hx4w&oe=661F9EDE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436470209_912038517276458_3006550959159813641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vK2SpJE0rDIAb4HCaq5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA6kd9zdICngAL3j8b0Wph4bC2VKrAjBZrlJMrBmn0wEQ&oe=661FB3C0			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176526	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176528	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176529	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176564	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972694		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176567	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972694		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176570	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972694		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176577	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972694		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176581	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972694		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1176599	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972694		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1176608	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1176619	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1176622	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1176625	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1176627	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1176639	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176642	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176645	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176648	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176660	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176662	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186167	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972690		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1176668	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186178	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972690		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176684	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176694	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176698	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176728	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1176733	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1176741	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		1483272105880448	1	1.4917145147154E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	123761154145420		0	SphereBuilder Community - BAL			120207641959520097		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Mark Milligan	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/HTqXJi/13295		1712776407	1.2376115414542E+14	SphereBuilder Community - BAL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435683197_1094891265109097_5147759821480122927_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DmusYmwtoRgAb6EBnXB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCNqVF5qNK0vEKY2e0syPqge0y4ryKp_Ht1WlOars5llA&oe=661F9C72	person_profile	0	SphereBuilder Community - BAL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437357364_6191974107594431_1362683804103847386_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cjbarMfTmNAAb6bjrgg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-a-NF79MLlXlnTYfNalqhRPnlmGv9WHLivVvsjLgwlw&oe=661F9176			0	3	Recently sold in 21409! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - BAL		10	https://facebook.com/spherebuilderbal	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1176766	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1176769	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1176772	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1176779	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176784	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176787	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176790	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176814	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176820	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176827	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176830	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176836	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176849	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176857	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176862	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176890	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176896	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176901	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176906	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176910	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176916	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176922	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176937	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176943	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176953	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176954	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176961	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176966	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1178930	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1178944	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178960	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178950	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178957	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178966	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178973	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178980	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178988	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186369	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972690		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178994	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1179054	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967297	1723972695		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179290	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967301	1723972695		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179404	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967304	1723972695		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179462	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967305	1723972695		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179507	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967306	1723972695		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1179545	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967307	1723972695		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1179558	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967307	1723972695		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176931	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	3/3/25, 9:31 AM	1712967253	1740994260		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1179636	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967309	1723972695		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1179726	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967311	1723972695		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1179794	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967314	1723972695		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1179891	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967316	1723972695		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1179925	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967317	1723972695		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1180056	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967322	1723972695		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1180123	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967326	1723972695		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1180138	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967327	1723972695		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1180180	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967331	1723972695		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1180199	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967332	1723972695		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1180220	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967333	1723972695		505		1412905126282552				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185801	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967418	1723972695		505		437081485352437	1	6.7383510762653E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421451840230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837753	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436320196_1848855255563581_7182669758137502579_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=I0k8BGhLUT8Ab6a_vxQ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfn7nLfob5iyNaAhJSU9dcFsFBK5tXA5v_EcbZQ-D4LA&oe=661F887D	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436405918_313882924815759_6965904302003192202_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDEcMS7gPYQAb6FN_3b&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBnSGx9H14m-ldHnTLOafPo9tOWIxm6MHN_h3q8JHa3JA&oe=661FB95C			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2TloZUIA0hYAmSD3KCPCsYLq-nwVkc35P_-JsKdCuHr__EEVOeTk-nmMG6fzqAIwazOEC8rXIUtRWujbQroWcEeuj19uZFgtLuvhSxdKyBFSMjZ8VY6V2EFNf0Bfahigpo6YeS7SFKjmlkz1o88g" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185803	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967418	1723972695		505		1364327780938962	1	7.9241866612117E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421450520230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837744	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437398719_1070712884230021_793036756716192886_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IjFqhE2BS4kAb5xlz1F&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDn1Ax1rhgNoT3c9Xg4Gj1pMP58STyIAmIx6iqXmudeEg&oe=661FA802	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434020021_1222860978684523_6250263428203117700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W0qrICe6YsYAb7n3AL7&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAapMDjAhPw1t7Wm4Q1mSrt71baGAjZwXMvk8RUl9oyrA&oe=661F9D4E			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2PuYxT1ZfkUKrVvHfFcqhCbPgioTwK5-OT3tJh2fVQTz_5qEH3qzEiQMbWtyrWdk-fBrTgDokwYpvHQZf4LAO8-uIh4BUIk8gQD7Ki7KBwNgQTjHAD47zoCYkCYhLuxoldsrycXCAkxJnQqTAWOQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185820	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972695		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185833	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972695		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185836	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972695		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185843	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972695		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185871	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185877	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185880	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185885	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185887	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185889	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185895	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185898	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185903	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185911	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185917	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185922	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		793146902699782	6	1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340264730685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711116031	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432067347_1063576474745018_724497605306183776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sJ8xozyyWl8Ab4NBwB8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCSZ6_CSm4IJeANrfcGpixAHZ1xwCCtoJ3MUCtocamJTg&oe=661FA06C	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432063006_408226161794850_4398130670109671840_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3SANrAQcrwAb5t6bir&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDETWgeaaLVr-qIVlhrpdumPW1-vZ19cUApPohsjL6WzQ&oe=661FAC05			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712646000		View Edit Delete
1176389	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972690		505		3505336949778565		1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340266300685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711116526	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433475337_1492928794588595_3772129735441044432_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kow5FrRwiOkAb5qKIJh&_nc_oc=Adhk2HVQ1qIofsKgR0U7Yxgf462lzojnRDdstTb8pZ8zh6BEBMXHbVq3sOLLP7WwKr8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCijf9BmOLDZicQ710ltsYJfXoVG4dl6lfSBLxo6CcbCQ&oe=661FA35F	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433443683_891688346088503_8992721139677055626_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ruJWnY8uQXAAb5ZOl3_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCSZYB5C1AuIwL3SYPTZlTuRjT3qZajNaTmgvclcQL4sg&oe=661FA47B			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1185932	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185944	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1185948	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1185952	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1185954	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1185959	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1185963	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1185970	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185983	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185989	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1185991	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1185994	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		1108849420326568	1	9.6223357200576E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586032648		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/mindy-sweater-midi/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956446	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437484502_738324704819173_5160908027024819248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwSSoODS3pMAb6JNRpS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA89UmMfqvuWTT16XhmZEyexzbD_-oXHld5txGPf-XxFA&oe=661F8E95	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437665887_727355032904993_5452027151206115832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JOql7n9ykjIAb7MWtdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjLacz9z7h03gcbYAAyPddLRRDSORy6fqm1saRBIeLdQ&oe=661FB411			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1185996	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		1108849420326568	1	9.6223357200576E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586032648		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/mindy-sweater-midi/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956446	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437484502_738324704819173_5160908027024819248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwSSoODS3pMAb6JNRpS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA89UmMfqvuWTT16XhmZEyexzbD_-oXHld5txGPf-XxFA&oe=661F8E95	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437665887_727355032904993_5452027151206115832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JOql7n9ykjIAb7MWtdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjLacz9z7h03gcbYAAyPddLRRDSORy6fqm1saRBIeLdQ&oe=661FB411			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186000	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		830634192232801	1	7.2938647540633E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585892848		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956421	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435413566_392969886863533_199358440768604929_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G9rXrIgi4xkAb7R9d-w&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC4jdV4qgaRQczOgKanfsa0N78xJW7EOzpv-9zxwRQdFQ&oe=661F8F67	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435662394_768260098782859_6275020737785059050_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hqkYHl_Okp0Ab513BJ3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB86jbfmnxQ8XDDEq-IHPS6Q-n8vIDK1IPCAagmeqYGbQ&oe=661F99B8			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186002	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		830634192232801	1	7.2938647540633E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585892848		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956421	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435413566_392969886863533_199358440768604929_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G9rXrIgi4xkAb7R9d-w&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC4jdV4qgaRQczOgKanfsa0N78xJW7EOzpv-9zxwRQdFQ&oe=661F8F67	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435662394_768260098782859_6275020737785059050_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hqkYHl_Okp0Ab513BJ3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB86jbfmnxQ8XDDEq-IHPS6Q-n8vIDK1IPCAagmeqYGbQ&oe=661F99B8			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186004	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		830634192232801	1	7.2938647540633E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585892848		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956421	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435413566_392969886863533_199358440768604929_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G9rXrIgi4xkAb7R9d-w&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC4jdV4qgaRQczOgKanfsa0N78xJW7EOzpv-9zxwRQdFQ&oe=661F8F67	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435662394_768260098782859_6275020737785059050_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hqkYHl_Okp0Ab513BJ3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB86jbfmnxQ8XDDEq-IHPS6Q-n8vIDK1IPCAagmeqYGbQ&oe=661F99B8			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186008	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		921897479619033	1	1.4607058348308E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585967448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-ever-had-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956431	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437550218_1866550143776000_2615491418669840649_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-WaoxvngSNEAb7V7d65&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCvp6RVRzCMzAD6O8ubM0bbOAinj_qPAv3bcfwe8n9dLw&oe=661F8432	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922056_2000711553677902_6397388021243872833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0vZfscJBGQ0Ab567UK_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbK4z9fk04AOa2SRHSFqCyhnGbNl3IgaT7KxPOF5Y4Ng&oe=661F8C7C			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186015	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186019	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		1376403429740759	1	1.6099407265088E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585894248		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-petal-pusher-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956419	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885844_805250394803261_491379009023456011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOjs7B92QuIAb7nR2KS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_fijY_aDDU_jrEiI_xfSZEOHsn090s5aan9Ok5_hx4w&oe=661F9EDE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436470209_912038517276458_3006550959159813641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vK2SpJE0rDIAb4HCaq5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA6kd9zdICngAL3j8b0Wph4bC2VKrAjBZrlJMrBmn0wEQ&oe=661FB3C0			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186022	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		1376403429740759	1	1.6099407265088E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585894248		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-petal-pusher-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956419	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885844_805250394803261_491379009023456011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOjs7B92QuIAb7nR2KS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_fijY_aDDU_jrEiI_xfSZEOHsn090s5aan9Ok5_hx4w&oe=661F9EDE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436470209_912038517276458_3006550959159813641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vK2SpJE0rDIAb4HCaq5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA6kd9zdICngAL3j8b0Wph4bC2VKrAjBZrlJMrBmn0wEQ&oe=661FB3C0			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186026	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		1466728833917035	1	1.1461219468319E+15		1712905200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	277613742096779		0	SimpleCheck			120206658350740464		fb.me	Learn more		NONE	video	🦷 "It's like x-ray vision for patient financing" 🦷🧑‍⚕️🪥		http://fb.me/		1712951455	2.7761374209678E+14	SimpleCheck	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437936314_1887947198292419_987258337334747092_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jTFZIyuZ62sAb47E5C_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBwfWP2fw7K838kz2C3HnJX5OhwNHLM1MyxouasvRt49Q&oe=661F9958	person_profile	0	SimpleCheck	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437893836_1153632112318284_5086001434904099599_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2br14vUVSrYAb52aIDp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBMTRjvOhe_zA8_3CtVmqBTv-iDGlgG79_OnUZNraRFVg&oe=661F8AEE			0	3	🦷 Dentists &amp; Office Managers! Patient financing without SimpleCheck is like shooting in the dark...<br /> <br /> Where missing the mark by even an inch costs you thousands...<br /> <br /> Hidden fees, unclear terms, and frankly wasting precious time with patients who can&#039;t qualify for 💩.<br /> <br /> But with SimpleCheck, it&#039;s like having x-ray vision.<br /> <br /> To be clear, you DON&#039;T need another financing provider - and we&#039;re NOT one!<br /> <br /> As the first and only unbiased, data-driven, pre-qualification tool, we are democratizing patient financing by being your &quot;first look&quot; - and here&#039;s why:<br /> <br /> With just a patient&#039;s name and address, we&#039;re able to instantly determine the best of your current patient financing providers with a soft-pull that has no impact on your patients&#039; credit scores.<br /> <br /> This means you&#039;ll know EXACTLY which companies your patient will qualify for...<br /> <br /> Along with the cost to your practice (Where it&#039;s likely you could save 50% or more on processing fees)<br /> <br /> And the cost to your patient (Where they too can likely save 50% or more by avoiding predatory hidden interest terms)<br /> <br /> Let&#039;s face it...<br /> <br /> Trying to navigate patient financing blindfolded can lead to costly mistakes.<br /> <br /> But SimpleCheck allows you to see through the confusion and always make the best decision.<br /> <br /> We&#039;ve gathered all your financing options in one place, making it easy to compare and choose the right one.<br /> <br /> Ready to experience the future of patient financing?<br /> <br /> Get 3 FREE credits when you sign up for SimpleCheck today!		SimpleCheck		3	https://facebook.com/simplecheckai	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186036	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		441520074943949	1	3.531516738431E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312348960041		nj.pseg.com	Learn more		NONE	video	1,000+ techs on call.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.video		1712951784	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435696933_3693659494182806_7020138006284419081_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VIommr84eUwAb5wdR_o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBECeesWt8C62mHv75-19siyQxdJygr76mLP99xyaakkQ&oe=661F85AB	person_profile	0					0	3	Appliance breakdowns got you down? With WorryFree Protection Plans, you get a huge fleet of experienced techs standing by.		PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186040	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186042	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186046	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		443553624849422	1	3.2602627050769E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	894657667405620		0	Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County			120207594938430724					NONE	image					1712942344	8.9465766740562E+14	Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436150759_941920704177363_3164995723504870130_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4uBdu2qA-lAAb57NTSB&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD5c7IUOOhr4fj84jtB5HS5xi23TJ9sYkstxfriowpdaQ&oe=661F8E08	person_profile	0	Smoke-Free Marion County	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435945856_7351496594968042_5833205963934579741_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WqvQ1Wf2VUgAb763VaR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCn2hS0_O9bQoypmnUQpRCkHzDHhLlbeOAPd6pIsY41Bg&oe=661F9F49			0	3	Implementing smoke-free policies has proven to be a game-changer in improving public health.💪 By creating smoke-free environments in workplaces, restaurants, bars, and public spaces, we&#039;re not only protecting non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke but also encouraging smokers to quit or reduce their smoking habits.<br /> <br /> 📉 Studies have shown that smoke-free policies lead to significant reductions in smoking rates, lower rates of heart disease♥️ , respiratory illnesses, and even fewer hospital admissions due to smoking-related conditions. <br /> <br /> Let&#039;s continue to advocate for and support #smokefree policies to promote better public health outcomes and create environments where everyone can breathe easier and live healthier lives. Together, we can make a positive impact on the well-being of our communities! 🚭👥 <br /> <br /> #HealthyKY #HealthyMarionCounty		Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County		1006	https://facebook.com/SmokeFreeMarionCo	0								1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186048	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186052	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186057	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186059	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186061	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1186071	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1186084	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972695		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1186088	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972695		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1186227	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186229	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176591	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972690		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1186239	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186243	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186244	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186245	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186247	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186248	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186249	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186251	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186253	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186255	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186259	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186263	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186269	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186275	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186277	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186279	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186307	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186309	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186315	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176703	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972690		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186317	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186319	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186323	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176738	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972690		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186325	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176744	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972690		505		870702304861895	1	9.6558574861222E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	114970411603490		0	SphereBuilder Community - GWA			120209459458480247		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Chenise E. Hinds	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/5mI2d6/12469		1712452343	1.1497041160349E+14	SphereBuilder Community - GWA	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435957540_1125875141884078_2593542428121257718_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LeOicIbfTMUAb4fseki&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCqKPZLSL0x6jppdrWQSEvtDZlFk5NueUsPz3GGyBDHJQ&oe=661F8EC3	person_profile	0	SphereBuilder Community - GWA	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982165_2181782945491565_9021816782525270015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=p40PlIFNARcAb5nGOKe&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCtTQoi250y0FZtx_LFwd6JFcqvnHtDsZ9K2S9-8a43HA&oe=661FAB48			0	3	Recently sold in Summit Creek, Clinton, MD! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - GWA		16	https://facebook.com/spherebuildergwa	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186327	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186331	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186335	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186339	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186341	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186342	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176803	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972690		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176805	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972690		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186345	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972696		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186346	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972696		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186348	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186354	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186357	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186363	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186365	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186371	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186373	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186375	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186379	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186381	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186383	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186389	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186427	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967429	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186456	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967431	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186480	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967432	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186562	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967436	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186578	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967437	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186660	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967440	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186671	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967442	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186724	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967445	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186739	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967446	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186774	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967447	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186836	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967449	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188187	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967530	1723972696		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188053	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972696		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
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1188062	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972696		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188076	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972696		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188079	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972696		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188099	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188134	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188141	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188234	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967550	1723972696		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1186872	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967451	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186903	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967452	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186940	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186943	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186946	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186960	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186964	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186967	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186970	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1179551	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967307	1723972690		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187877	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		2056673278052074	1	3.969055966053E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210420275240230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Barefoot shoes for better health 😍	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5	https://www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons		1712836063	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435989606_931696965625122_375407036027608490_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IhgFxl2_zkoAb7vS8yS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCz4_8O14WtXJa4C2v0fZjmGdC6GWUx1f3INv06UP64hQ&oe=661FB0B5	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435895720_1119730055941904_8740639153972041351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hFPK8XdpuGEAb4fmhTE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDw8cZ-5LRgp8IJCqIVEStwDlVlne_2DGzDHc6diX77Jw&oe=661FB292			0	3	Goodbye foot pain! Hello all-day comfort.. ☁️👣<br /> <br /> ✅ Walk and move pain-free!<br /> ✅ Recommended by orthopaedists<br /> ✅ 30 days money-back guarantee<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fpages%2F7-reasons&amp;h=AT0Pw8yayCcEM4YvHPW4N6ulU4VysyjXIdqSK8nWrXDSoNUZT1aR4RFbZzQTPSiTo3kkIgDMQAaVcmeVdA14Me4qiljZZdmF27ksJzY_Sp9VsoW4p57GNyTvbQCdrrZhEPzieJpRihb2JvohBmhn9Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187878	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		433851832514250	1	2.7680313533509E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421450490230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837739	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434035911_1078711730075412_1345385782503023554_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=duhaBxhG5XoAb5vgBIR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgCTsWSvY5tZwO9YmM2oB7q49IzWsXA-StnhVwqD_ZxQ&oe=661FB7AC	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434449849_1635961720525133_1100579637977196179_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CMkLxfc_adYAb7iKb_4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC43HFSoVBdRSjemxnRYUNci1TF8j24YOVTeX9ZBVZXQA&oe=661FA019			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2jELouzCEcxel71eyYBgNJ67Oj0EiWL9qdplqtrI50JcECNTegO5eVPVFlT_o8CkgLH_rzGirVv6CG0U6fkxc0rvAOPk7jEF4Euyig1HVOXJUxQ8rwieL7sZyF7xM1cxtujeBkaPfkX-pb78f2vw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187879	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		437081485352437	1	6.7383510762653E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421451840230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837753	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436320196_1848855255563581_7182669758137502579_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=I0k8BGhLUT8Ab6a_vxQ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfn7nLfob5iyNaAhJSU9dcFsFBK5tXA5v_EcbZQ-D4LA&oe=661F887D	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436405918_313882924815759_6965904302003192202_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDEcMS7gPYQAb6FN_3b&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBnSGx9H14m-ldHnTLOafPo9tOWIxm6MHN_h3q8JHa3JA&oe=661FB95C			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2TloZUIA0hYAmSD3KCPCsYLq-nwVkc35P_-JsKdCuHr__EEVOeTk-nmMG6fzqAIwazOEC8rXIUtRWujbQroWcEeuj19uZFgtLuvhSxdKyBFSMjZ8VY6V2EFNf0Bfahigpo6YeS7SFKjmlkz1o88g" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187881	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		7346732472070340	1	1.094138431877E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421451900230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837753	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434423968_7342085682574738_6245997706494449377_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FKC6-YpcpsAAb7req2Z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBS4gatd55F9ifMGvV96AMMkKsGacwn9cstTCpxuEe9aw&oe=661F906C	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465394_1092084861881680_2424124477263033238_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vWNmOxR4Kw8Ab7yfwjk&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA7xhVRIa2Jo78xNI9c8qS77C0MbJSDwHuG4YykX3GJWQ&oe=661FA6E6			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2azzQzxUjLQ2cCXgaJ39GMBwZhjqmEp0hzLhCQMZ7RbxW2GgTWGa6PwQlLK9lMiXbpsKr0XR8uVtWZXCcQBnZWWNYTE67rwXvK7yBoj3aK5rlUpYuouKt-Gzym2g95JtVhxN7CrgxJJf1YnpF3XA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187882	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187884	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187885	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187887	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1180039	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967321	1723972690		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187888	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187895	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187897	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187898	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187900	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187901	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187904	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185799	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967418	1723972690		505		433851832514250	1	2.7680313533509E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421450490230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837739	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434035911_1078711730075412_1345385782503023554_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=duhaBxhG5XoAb5vgBIR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgCTsWSvY5tZwO9YmM2oB7q49IzWsXA-StnhVwqD_ZxQ&oe=661FB7AC	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434449849_1635961720525133_1100579637977196179_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CMkLxfc_adYAb7iKb_4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC43HFSoVBdRSjemxnRYUNci1TF8j24YOVTeX9ZBVZXQA&oe=661FA019			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2jELouzCEcxel71eyYBgNJ67Oj0EiWL9qdplqtrI50JcECNTegO5eVPVFlT_o8CkgLH_rzGirVv6CG0U6fkxc0rvAOPk7jEF4Euyig1HVOXJUxQ8rwieL7sZyF7xM1cxtujeBkaPfkX-pb78f2vw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187905	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187908	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185804	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967418	1723972690		505		7346732472070340	1	1.094138431877E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421451900230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837753	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434423968_7342085682574738_6245997706494449377_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FKC6-YpcpsAAb7req2Z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBS4gatd55F9ifMGvV96AMMkKsGacwn9cstTCpxuEe9aw&oe=661F906C	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465394_1092084861881680_2424124477263033238_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vWNmOxR4Kw8Ab7yfwjk&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA7xhVRIa2Jo78xNI9c8qS77C0MbJSDwHuG4YykX3GJWQ&oe=661FA6E6			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2azzQzxUjLQ2cCXgaJ39GMBwZhjqmEp0hzLhCQMZ7RbxW2GgTWGa6PwQlLK9lMiXbpsKr0XR8uVtWZXCcQBnZWWNYTE67rwXvK7yBoj3aK5rlUpYuouKt-Gzym2g95JtVhxN7CrgxJJf1YnpF3XA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187910	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187911	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187912	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187914	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187917	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187919	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187921	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187924	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		3505336949778565		1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340266300685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711116526	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433475337_1492928794588595_3772129735441044432_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kow5FrRwiOkAb5qKIJh&_nc_oc=Adhk2HVQ1qIofsKgR0U7Yxgf462lzojnRDdstTb8pZ8zh6BEBMXHbVq3sOLLP7WwKr8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCijf9BmOLDZicQ710ltsYJfXoVG4dl6lfSBLxo6CcbCQ&oe=661FA35F	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433443683_891688346088503_8992721139677055626_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ruJWnY8uQXAAb5ZOl3_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCSZYB5C1AuIwL3SYPTZlTuRjT3qZajNaTmgvclcQL4sg&oe=661FA47B			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1187925	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187929	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187933	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1187934	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1185878	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972690		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187935	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1187963	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972696		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188006	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972696		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188033	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972696		505		225317477305852	1	1.0927243117802E+15		1712905200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	232263819969043		0	Northern Michigan Regional Entity			120208704833530222		drugfreenorthernmichigan.net	Contact us		NONE	image	Take The First Step Towards A Brighter Future	Break free from the bet.	https://www.drugfreenorthernmichigan.net/education-awareness/gambling.html		1712084250	2.3226381996904E+14	Northern Michigan Regional Entity	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434455004_828695165761950_2107849835655896905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0RTwRLp7ELIAb6sW1X_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfChjA_wHzadFHNwFwckTJHLfSSU9EJv4mifi_9Nf7zQNQ&oe=661F95A2	person_profile	0	Northern Michigan Regional Ent	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592496_1008484914051427_4155198943189880564_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GLP7eN1kFS4Ab6aK4uM&_nc_oc=Adg_GnCS90ZNtf4I57mRJ6yYYm4j2j5LalF2yi3kEP4BaIAZnw6pGtekOmo4T7t7ldU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAerZu2NIBtY8WbAnFwAwMB-pK9fXPYQwAflBr1cKtQfA&oe=661FAC38			0	3	Seek help from the MDHHS helpline to quit your gambling addiction. Their dedicated team is here to provide the aid you need!		Northern Michigan Regional Entity		5	https://facebook.com/61556001462885	0		CONTACT_US						1712559600		View Edit Delete
1188034	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972696		505		394272036808539	1	7.6477841574865E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	57941978569		0	eCYBERMISSION			120208070941880752		www.ecybermission.com	Learn more		NONE	video	eCYBERMISSION STEM Competition	Level up your STEM curriculum with eCYBERMISSION's free, 6-9 grade STEM competition	https://www.ecybermission.com/jointhemission/?utm_source=external&utm_medium=Meta&utm_campaign=Meta		1712848196	57941978569	eCYBERMISSION	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435268780_1466870747538285_5098525439305937829_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sJz6zylTxXMAb4jhiF_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6sQqUkUaetEzr6lWYPQUSgKGDXk6k4xh9Re7zqxizdQ&oe=661FABB9	person_profile	0	eCYBERMISSION	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435387793_743075451366846_4646950176731595421_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VEuKUGTIOhQAb5v6Hml&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBGT4dPvLO0M_L2WOOedQpR7GUatmlmYSnd6nn8EmCZZQ&oe=661FA88D			0	3	Teachers, isn&#039;t it time someone did the work for YOU? eCYBERMISSION makes teaching STEM simple.		eCYBERMISSION		2592	https://facebook.com/GOeCYBER	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188057	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972696		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188065	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972696		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1188082	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972696		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188089	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972696		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188105	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1185908	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972690		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1188112	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188113	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188118	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188120	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188121	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188125	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185940	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972690		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185946	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972690		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1188132	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185957	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972690		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1188133	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188135	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188136	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188137	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188138	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188140	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188142	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188146	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188151	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967498	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188157	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967505	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
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1188160	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967508	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188166	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188172	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188173	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188177	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967517	1723972696		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188178	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967518	1723972696		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
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1188179	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967519	1723972696		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188185	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967529	1723972696		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188228	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967543	1723972696		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188229	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967545	1723972696		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1176776	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972696		505		379270718294139	1	7.4703713420808E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	241155789412943		0	Inland Valley Recovery Services			120206695304000591		www.inlandvalleyrecovery.org	Contact us		NONE	video	Your Road To Recovery Starts Here	Break free from addiction.	https://www.inlandvalleyrecovery.org/		1710394723	2.4115578941294E+14	Inland Valley Recovery Services	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431869361_348072008207042_2220250795207324178_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L_4M81xQENoAb7NTT_k&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBCTKlj8K-cKcDdY0QYB-zDHKtq_VpdzK8DSSBWwsHLkg&oe=661F833B	person_profile	0	Inland Valley Recovery	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430738651_330975669947882_1433483430364268567_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xiTjBhD9_dQAb7E5JKJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfChHltM8ncq_NpJe_FpWosAfRYGTKq2tgZds2ZrD8HSYA&oe=661FA0F3			0	3	Are you or someone you love battling a fentanyl addiction? You&#039;re not alone. We are ready to help you.		Inland Valley Recovery Services		2175	https://facebook.com/InlandValleyRecoveryServices	0		CONTACT_US						1710486000		View Edit Delete
1178916	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	2/12/25, 6:10 AM	1712967295	1739362234		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
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1186261	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972690		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186344	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972690		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187930	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972690		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187945	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972690		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187948	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972690		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187951	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187955	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		1108849420326568	1	9.6223357200576E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586032648		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/mindy-sweater-midi/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956446	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437484502_738324704819173_5160908027024819248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwSSoODS3pMAb6JNRpS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA89UmMfqvuWTT16XhmZEyexzbD_-oXHld5txGPf-XxFA&oe=661F8E95	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437665887_727355032904993_5452027151206115832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JOql7n9ykjIAb7MWtdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjLacz9z7h03gcbYAAyPddLRRDSORy6fqm1saRBIeLdQ&oe=661FB411			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187958	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		830634192232801	1	7.2938647540633E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585892848		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956421	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435413566_392969886863533_199358440768604929_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G9rXrIgi4xkAb7R9d-w&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC4jdV4qgaRQczOgKanfsa0N78xJW7EOzpv-9zxwRQdFQ&oe=661F8F67	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435662394_768260098782859_6275020737785059050_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hqkYHl_Okp0Ab513BJ3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB86jbfmnxQ8XDDEq-IHPS6Q-n8vIDK1IPCAagmeqYGbQ&oe=661F99B8			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187967	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		1376403429740759	1	1.6099407265088E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585894248		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-petal-pusher-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956419	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885844_805250394803261_491379009023456011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOjs7B92QuIAb7nR2KS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_fijY_aDDU_jrEiI_xfSZEOHsn090s5aan9Ok5_hx4w&oe=661F9EDE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436470209_912038517276458_3006550959159813641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vK2SpJE0rDIAb4HCaq5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA6kd9zdICngAL3j8b0Wph4bC2VKrAjBZrlJMrBmn0wEQ&oe=661FB3C0			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187970	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187972	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187975	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187979	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1188027	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1188028	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1188035	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1188044	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188050	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		387072690725868	2	3.871744639565E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1985698018394105		0	Horbaach			120205822830450525		horbaach.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Search: 5 results found for "nitric oxide"	Count on us to bring you products that are formulated with care, tested rigorously, and backed by decades of expertise.	https://horbaach.com/search?q=nitric+oxide&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ecommerce&utm_content=nosimage1		1708023235	1.9856980183941E+15	Horbaach	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426513719_3590945641147342_7517592862440309833_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F4uXmByTNiQAb6uKqRc&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDh7jiE3BnutoINxdRV3XpTTlaZGczvltEJStNEJNk-Sg&oe=661FA04B	person_profile	0	Horbaach Health	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426526585_1330967624277560_7147559842765520453_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aLJBibhbrWgAb5TA_bL&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAjLOSsCvX1FZk_7QKL3B_j39lwYhDUpp_WtRagVM4Yxg&oe=661FA2B8			0	3	Shop Horbäach Products		Horbaach		11281	https://facebook.com/horbaach	0		LEARN_MORE						1707984000		View Edit Delete
1188071	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972690		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188081	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972690		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188096	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188110	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972690		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188139	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972690		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176522	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	4/25/25, 6:13 AM	1712967248	1745579619		505		1466728833917035	1	1.1461219468319E+15		1712905200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	277613742096779		0	SimpleCheck			120206658350740464		fb.me	Learn more		NONE	video	🦷 "It's like x-ray vision for patient financing" 🦷🧑‍⚕️🪥		http://fb.me/		1712951455	2.7761374209678E+14	SimpleCheck	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437936314_1887947198292419_987258337334747092_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jTFZIyuZ62sAb47E5C_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBwfWP2fw7K838kz2C3HnJX5OhwNHLM1MyxouasvRt49Q&oe=661F9958	person_profile	0	SimpleCheck	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437893836_1153632112318284_5086001434904099599_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2br14vUVSrYAb52aIDp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBMTRjvOhe_zA8_3CtVmqBTv-iDGlgG79_OnUZNraRFVg&oe=661F8AEE			0	3	🦷 Dentists &amp; Office Managers! Patient financing without SimpleCheck is like shooting in the dark...<br /> <br /> Where missing the mark by even an inch costs you thousands...<br /> <br /> Hidden fees, unclear terms, and frankly wasting precious time with patients who can&#039;t qualify for 💩.<br /> <br /> But with SimpleCheck, it&#039;s like having x-ray vision.<br /> <br /> To be clear, you DON&#039;T need another financing provider - and we&#039;re NOT one!<br /> <br /> As the first and only unbiased, data-driven, pre-qualification tool, we are democratizing patient financing by being your &quot;first look&quot; - and here&#039;s why:<br /> <br /> With just a patient&#039;s name and address, we&#039;re able to instantly determine the best of your current patient financing providers with a soft-pull that has no impact on your patients&#039; credit scores.<br /> <br /> This means you&#039;ll know EXACTLY which companies your patient will qualify for...<br /> <br /> Along with the cost to your practice (Where it&#039;s likely you could save 50% or more on processing fees)<br /> <br /> And the cost to your patient (Where they too can likely save 50% or more by avoiding predatory hidden interest terms)<br /> <br /> Let&#039;s face it...<br /> <br /> Trying to navigate patient financing blindfolded can lead to costly mistakes.<br /> <br /> But SimpleCheck allows you to see through the confusion and always make the best decision.<br /> <br /> We&#039;ve gathered all your financing options in one place, making it easy to compare and choose the right one.<br /> <br /> Ready to experience the future of patient financing?<br /> <br /> Get 3 FREE credits when you sign up for SimpleCheck today!		SimpleCheck		3	https://facebook.com/simplecheckai	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187891	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972690		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187937	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972690		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1187974	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972690		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188043	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188048	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972690		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188074	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972690		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1178924	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972690		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176265	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	7/24/25, 8:53 PM	1712967244	1753408420		505		7346732472070340	1	1.094138431877E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210421451900230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	1 + 1 FREE (STOCK CLEARANCE) 🚨	37,252+ Happy Customers!	https://www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer		1712837753	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434423968_7342085682574738_6245997706494449377_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FKC6-YpcpsAAb7req2Z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBS4gatd55F9ifMGvV96AMMkKsGacwn9cstTCpxuEe9aw&oe=661F906C	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465394_1092084861881680_2424124477263033238_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vWNmOxR4Kw8Ab7yfwjk&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA7xhVRIa2Jo78xNI9c8qS77C0MbJSDwHuG4YykX3GJWQ&oe=661FA6E6			0	3	RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF BAREFOOT SHOES! 😍<br /> <br /> ✅ Barefoot shoes for a natural gait<br /> ✅ Suitable for all feet<br /> ✅ Immediate pain relief<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fproducts%2Fexplorer-offer&amp;h=AT2azzQzxUjLQ2cCXgaJ39GMBwZhjqmEp0hzLhCQMZ7RbxW2GgTWGa6PwQlLK9lMiXbpsKr0XR8uVtWZXCcQBnZWWNYTE67rwXvK7yBoj3aK5rlUpYuouKt-Gzym2g95JtVhxN7CrgxJJf1YnpF3XA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/products/explorer-offer</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
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1176553	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	5/16/25, 11:24 PM	1712967249	1747455862		505		443553624849422	1	3.2602627050769E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	894657667405620		0	Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County			120207594938430724					NONE	image					1712942344	8.9465766740562E+14	Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436150759_941920704177363_3164995723504870130_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4uBdu2qA-lAAb57NTSB&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD5c7IUOOhr4fj84jtB5HS5xi23TJ9sYkstxfriowpdaQ&oe=661F8E08	person_profile	0	Smoke-Free Marion County	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435945856_7351496594968042_5833205963934579741_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WqvQ1Wf2VUgAb763VaR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCn2hS0_O9bQoypmnUQpRCkHzDHhLlbeOAPd6pIsY41Bg&oe=661F9F49			0	3	Implementing smoke-free policies has proven to be a game-changer in improving public health.💪 By creating smoke-free environments in workplaces, restaurants, bars, and public spaces, we&#039;re not only protecting non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke but also encouraging smokers to quit or reduce their smoking habits.<br /> <br /> 📉 Studies have shown that smoke-free policies lead to significant reductions in smoking rates, lower rates of heart disease♥️ , respiratory illnesses, and even fewer hospital admissions due to smoking-related conditions. <br /> <br /> Let&#039;s continue to advocate for and support #smokefree policies to promote better public health outcomes and create environments where everyone can breathe easier and live healthier lives. Together, we can make a positive impact on the well-being of our communities! 🚭👥 <br /> <br /> #HealthyKY #HealthyMarionCounty		Coalition for a Smoke-Free Marion County		1006	https://facebook.com/SmokeFreeMarionCo	0								1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176725	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	4/26/25, 2:08 PM	1712967251	1745694501		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
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1176654	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972690		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
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1179181	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967299	1723972690		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186028	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972690		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
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1176851	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	4/28/25, 7:49 AM	1712967253	1745844569		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188097	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188129	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972691		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188171	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972691		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188211	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967532	1723972691		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188221	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967542	1723972691		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186954	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972691		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		Random Reading		17809	https://facebook.com/61551554669298	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187883	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972691		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187889	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972691		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187890	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972691		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187893	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972691		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187894	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972691		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187906	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972691		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187940	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972691		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1187949	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187965	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		1376403429740759	1	1.6099407265088E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585894248		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-petal-pusher-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956419	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885844_805250394803261_491379009023456011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOjs7B92QuIAb7nR2KS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_fijY_aDDU_jrEiI_xfSZEOHsn090s5aan9Ok5_hx4w&oe=661F9EDE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436470209_912038517276458_3006550959159813641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vK2SpJE0rDIAb4HCaq5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA6kd9zdICngAL3j8b0Wph4bC2VKrAjBZrlJMrBmn0wEQ&oe=661FB3C0			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187971	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1187980	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972691		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1188002	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188003	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1098287241458390				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208457645600608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3180	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710930585	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433415855_415012464478861_3823810499275252217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EwvJC8OM9IIAb5gNcjt&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEBuJKexNbVh9sYkA_wOZZioDAZNF36tsk1zWtdQsvuw&oe=661FA347	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433260103_412948864660612_2567611199848042360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7XzCRgoPrt8Ab4PAqzn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB9HdL6zNBoooxqt9sZ5yfdjX34gLwnzh6neARQuMEtOA&oe=661F8F9B			0	3	Choose your partner’s perfect gift now.🔥 ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188005	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188008	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188009	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967488	1723972691		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188010	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188012	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188014	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188015	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188016	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188017	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1188020	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1188022	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1188024	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1188026	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1188031	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		870702304861895	1	9.6558574861222E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	114970411603490		0	SphereBuilder Community - GWA			120209459458480247		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Chenise E. Hinds	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/5mI2d6/12469		1712452343	1.1497041160349E+14	SphereBuilder Community - GWA	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435957540_1125875141884078_2593542428121257718_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LeOicIbfTMUAb4fseki&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCqKPZLSL0x6jppdrWQSEvtDZlFk5NueUsPz3GGyBDHJQ&oe=661F8EC3	person_profile	0	SphereBuilder Community - GWA	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982165_2181782945491565_9021816782525270015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=p40PlIFNARcAb5nGOKe&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCtTQoi250y0FZtx_LFwd6JFcqvnHtDsZ9K2S9-8a43HA&oe=661FAB48			0	3	Recently sold in Summit Creek, Clinton, MD! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - GWA		16	https://facebook.com/spherebuildergwa	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1188038	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1188040	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188046	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188052	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972691		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
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1188091	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972691		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188159	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967507	1723972691		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188206	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188209	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967531	1723972692		505		934723565327450				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1188214	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967534	1723972692		505		943989793837660				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188223	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967543	1723972692		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188225	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967543	1723972692		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188226	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967543	1723972692		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188231	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967547	1723972692		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1188233	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967549	1723972692		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1188236	1	active	4/12/24, 7:19 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967553	1723972692		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1176545	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972692		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176267	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972692		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176277	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972692		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176285	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972692		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176288	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972692		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176292	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972692		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176302	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972692		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176335	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972692		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176360	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972692		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176387	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972692		505		1433446537583673		1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340264690685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711115986	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432766660_834573728492230_2653119024926142613_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LBX4QLegLOUAb6-F4bh&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKZ_oTjJLNEzVqUOoAKjY7rcr0sCLd7Wien2H32uU9wQ&oe=661F82F7	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432759016_931550481678887_4364584942862825225_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gYqxsoR__HwAb5r_TAK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDfkT-II0QZjBODXB2xwj-sDJQEUCXtdcs3Fz5jgJjjBw&oe=661F8EA7			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1176393	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972692		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176409	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972692		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1176454	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972692		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176464	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972692		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176471	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972692		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176519	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972692		505		1376403429740759	1	1.6099407265088E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585894248		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-petal-pusher-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956419	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885844_805250394803261_491379009023456011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOjs7B92QuIAb7nR2KS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_fijY_aDDU_jrEiI_xfSZEOHsn090s5aan9Ok5_hx4w&oe=661F9EDE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436470209_912038517276458_3006550959159813641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vK2SpJE0rDIAb4HCaq5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA6kd9zdICngAL3j8b0Wph4bC2VKrAjBZrlJMrBmn0wEQ&oe=661FB3C0			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176562	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972692		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176799	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972692		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176594	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972692		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1176617	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972692		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1176657	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972692		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176672	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972692		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176700	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972692		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176735	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972692		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1176763	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972692		505		216463318195471	1	3.5079396395983E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1475434976107462		0	Weiss Property Management			120207717711510579		weisspm.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Expertise You Can Trust	Enhance your curb appeal	https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1710771508	1.4754349761075E+15	Weiss Property Management	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyHg9Xjc9TsAb79Ya5m&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD5DFTWcDOjdBUA_9JlwvpmqmJYa3qwVbm6izLalRKnNg&oe=661FB7C7	person_profile	0					0	3	Enhance your curb appeal		Weiss Property Management		802	https://facebook.com/weisspm1	0		CONTACT_US						1710831600		View Edit Delete
1176823	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972692		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176833	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972692		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176840	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		952116969916552	1	4.4371317819194E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968589880515		svdpmadison.org	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Be A Difference Maker	Donate today.	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633319	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059232_418558377216020_5914965291766707678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aAFeYWtMGNEAb6FvCNl&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB3Lh62yPZ4x9Pht1Rzhr0N_XLfIv5XW6bDYtyovizNsQ&oe=661FB175	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431200203_1373641156679936_3025101819858786974_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0aBMccgnIXQAb7ILvde&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfALx4pq0i2OfRsEAqPn2GNV6rigVgU6qagJe51ZfFzxtA&oe=661F930D			0	3	Donate today.		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176845	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176854	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		334242079666160				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964890070390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712926585	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435349524_413772441606995_8284002612048435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6tGc666L4GwAb4fIi3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAH1okrBaUPjgy_RwRgdRJrA55soVGWJ02XE4pmW-XKnA&oe=661F9C44	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435121422_1071867850541926_6680009822866201554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2twggB318E8Ab46Uvdj&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA3tThhUcj3XM5SmLUkHntWeZjdD7M0KkRDzCRY8LMC0Q&oe=661F8589			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176887	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176904	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176925	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176940	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972692		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176957	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176969	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176974	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176978	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176983	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176987	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176990	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176994	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176998	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972692		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177003	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177006	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177026	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177032	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177042	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177044	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177049	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972693		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177055	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177065	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177071	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177074	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177080	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177084	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967255	1723972693		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1177187	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967258	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177305	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967261	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177373	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967262	1723972693		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177765	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967271	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177906	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967273	1723972693		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178295	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967281	1723972693		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1178818	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967292	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178850	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967293	1723972693		505		441586938397661				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1178927	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		731543762520778				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1178953	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972693		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1179578	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967308	1723972693		505		952971476004703				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	144939265372419		0	Indulge in story			120210151860200747		redtgb.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉		https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10764&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712931153	1.4493926537242E+14	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712488_1015814039964324_657844734682150848_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJ45X_XdR5oAb4QTXDf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFc6LSLYFVFlWu2axJucOK8tWxs61R7sCPXRWmjWAzjg&oe=661FA189	person_profile	0	Indulge in story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437937240_806462421407719_8436251413830785011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=flWVebzX-mwAb4Ht7Ud&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsNAySgf86-vbwR-s7kEedF_LwXrtacDBYTvOn14AKxg&oe=661FB30B			0	3	KATE Lisa pinched my arm and tilted her head towards the tall, muscular guy who had just came into the bar. "You didn't go out with Mitchel last night? You're quick," I teased her, raising an eyebrow. "Five minutes, that's all I have to say in my defense," she laughed, and I joined in. We were getting drunk at some random bar in Manhattan, celebrating the end of classes. Earlier, we had taken the final test, which would select one student from my class to join one of the country's biggest companies, Ryan Enterprises. It's the first time Ryan has offered a program in partnership with our university. Although Columbia had partnerships with several other important companies in the market, this position offers the opportunity to work directly with the CEO. It would be amazing, not only because of the possibility of using this experience to build our final project, which we would have to present but also because I couldn't imagine a better way to start my career. For me, it represents an important step toward the future. The results will be out in a week. When I mentioned we were getting drunk, I forgot to mention that my friends were more so than me. "Where are we celebrating tonight?" Brad asked, raising his glass with a loose smile, then taking another sip of his beer. We had barely arrived, and he was already drunk. How did he still manage to surprise me? "Yes! Where are we going, after all?" Lisa drummed her fingers on the bar counter, displaying her usual impatience. "Edge club?" Sarah suggested excitedly, letting out a squeal. Was she already drunk too? She used to be the most reserved, even worse than me when it came to socializing. "I think that's a great idea," Matt agreed. "The place is always crowded." He winked at Brad. "Great!" Brad concurred. They turned to me, awaiting confirmation. "Kate?" Lisa gave me that look. "Sure, it's fine by me. Actually, I'm so tired after all the stress from the test that..." "No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare. Even Sarah is excited." She scowled at me, while Sarah narrowed her eyes at her, indignant. "Don't worry, guys, I'll take care of her. Let's meet at ten in front of the nightclub. Don't be late." She warned. After saying our goodbyes, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, towards her car. We got in, and Lisa stared at me, narrowing her eyes. I sighed, showing my best-tired face. I was truly exhausted after spending the last few weeks studying like crazy. "Don't even think about it, Collins! We both know you've spent the past few weeks cooped up at home studying for this test and how hard you've worked, okay? But now that it's over, you're going out and having fun." "Fine, Lisa." I gave up because I knew it was useless to argue with her. It was always a lost battle. I dozed off during the short ride back to the apartment I shared with Lisa. We had been living together for about two and a half years. I moved into her apartment shortly after starting at the university. She sort of invited me, mostly because when I say you can't say no to Lisa, it's absolutely true. So, since I was paying a somewhat exorbitant rent, I accepted. Lisa became my best friend; I had never had one before I met her. She made me feel less lost and alone in a strange city since I moved to New York three and a half years ago. I had never been out of Texas, so it was quite a change. But I couldn't imagine a better place than New York to start a promising career. When we arrived home, Lisa went to her room, and I knew she wouldn't come out for another two or three hours after she finished getting ready. I went to the fridge and looked for something to eat. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, ready to watch any mindless program that was on. Was my life always boring, or was it getting worse now? Maybe it was just my paranoia, thinking that I was the only twenty-one-year-old woman who had never had a real relationship. It doesn't matter, Kate. Dating isn't important. I had already mentalized this mantra and absorbed it. I always thought relationships weren't for me, or that I would never find someone who made me want to be in one. Maybe I had too high expectations, and maybe it was the fault of the romances I read to pass the time and escape a bit from reality. * "Kate!" I opened my eyes, finding Lisa with an annoyed expression. "What?" I blinked, adjusting myself on the couch. "What do you mean, 'what'? You were supposed to be ready, but you were sleeping. It's almost nine!" I chuckled, and she widened her eyes at me but stopped when she furrowed her brow. Then she grabbed me by the arm and led me to my room. "I hope you're fast." "Yes, ma'am," I saluted, mocking her. An hour later, I walked out of my room. Freshly showered, wearing a slightly tight black dress, but still able to breathe. I laughed to myself. Lisa appeared in the living room shortly after. "You see, not all women need five or six hours to get ready," I said. She was wearing a short red dress with thin straps that fit her perfectly, matching her dark hair, her smile, and her pair of black eyes. She also had her hair in a ponytail and silver heels. "You look beautiful," I approached her, standing in front of her. "So do you. But... you need to know when to stop being so basic, Kate," she analyzed me and took out a lipstick from her purse, an extremely red lipstick. "Put it on," she asaked, and I rolled my eyes at her, but once again, I knew I had no choice. "It'll match your eyes." "Okay," I surrendered. It's not that I didn't like makeup, designer clothes, fancy lingerie, and expensive shoes—I actually loved them—but lately, my enthusiasm had disappeared. Chapter 2 KATE We arrived at the club around ten thirty, Brad and Matt were waiting outside, but Sarah wasn't with them. Matt mentioned that she had sent a message saying there was an unforeseen circumstance, and she couldn't make it. I was curious and worried, not knowing what had happened. I tried to convince Lisa and the guys that we should go back home, but it was useless. We got into the club, and it didn't take long for me to feel out of place. It had been a while since I had been in a place like this. I think I spent most of my time buried in books, and the university had taken up most of my time in recent years. The club was packed, and the music was deafening. Some people were dancing on the dance floor like crazy. I watched the guys head towards the bar. "Shall we dance?" Lisa pleaded, holding my hands. "Maybe later," I indicated the bar, letting her know I would be there. I definitely won't embarrass myself. I think I can only dance without looking ridiculous after a few drinks, or maybe I still look ridiculous but just don't care. "Have fun!" I walked toward the bar amid the crowd of bodies. I leaned against the counter and called the bartender after losing sight of the guys. I asked a whiskey, planning to have just one drink to endure the torture. I had the feeling the guy was looking at me strangely. I looked at myself, trying to find the mistake. When he served me the whiskey and flashed a nice smile, I understood. He was flirting. Do people still do that? Of course, they do, Kate. Normal people go out at night and flirt. He moved away to serve other customers, and I discreetly observed him. Black hair and a well-groomed beard. He was handsome, but not my type. Wait, do I have a type? I don't think so. I sat on one of the stools near the counter and turned to see Lisa on the dance floor, she seemed to be having a great time dancing. I smiled and waved at her. In the next ten minutes, a couple of guys, almost drunk, sat on the chair next to me making small talk, but I ignored them. I wished I could go home and finish watching my TV series. Glancing to my right, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the counter. I couldn't see him fully because of the lights, but I could feel his gaze on me, and it made me uncomfortable. I became strangely curious to see his face. He lifted his glass, greeting me, and I stopped staring at him. Seconds later, I saw him stand up and walk toward me. It was impossible not to look; he was extremely tall, the kind that made me feel like a dwarf even though I was five foot seven. His shoulders were broad, and he wore black jeans that fit him well. The gray long-sleeved shirt accentuated the muscles of his broad body and arms. Everything about him seemed so charming. I blinked several times, averting my gaze when I realized I had been staring at him for too long. When he sat on the stool next to me, I finished the rest of my whiskey, wanting to escape, while he signaled for the bartender. "Whiskey," he said, and I could feel his gaze on me. "You either don't like to drink, or you're avoiding getting drunk to be able to take your friend home," he gestured toward the dance floor. I didn't respond because all the words seemed to have vanished from my mind at that moment. It was one of those moments where your mind goes blank. "Are you going to keep playing your game and ignore me too?" It was strange to know that he was smiling even without looking at him. I swallowed hard, bringing my mind back from wherever it was. "Did you notice that while you were checking me out?" I replied without looking at him, rolling my eyes and feeling proud of myself for being so bold. I took another sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Admiring," he corrected. "You're the most interesting thing I've found around here." "I almost forgot that I'm on a store shelf." How could he say something so foolish? Does this actually work with women? "Are you always this receptive?" Only with idiots like you. I felt his fingers brushing against my ear as he tucked a strand of my hair back. My body froze, and his fingers trailed down, grazing my neck. I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver. That was so audacious. Why didn't I push him away? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away. But he didn't. On the contrary, he moved closer, leaning towards me. My heart raced in response. "Your skin is so soft..." he whispered. "I wonder if your mouth are too." His deep voice, unlike anything I had ever heard, sent slight shivers down my spine. I moistened my mouth with my tongue and involuntarily bit my lower mouth. He was making me feel strange things. Maybe it was the wine, making me say bold things and imagine as well. The bartender returned with a new bottle and poured the whiskey. He picked up the glass, and I felt his breath on my neck. Why wasn't I pushing him away? "I'm imagining what I would do if I had you in my bed," he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. This was much more than flirting. It was making me flustered, and more. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to look at him, intending to tell him to go take a hike, but after staring at his face, the words disappeared again. He had the most seductive blue eyes I had ever seen, a well-defined jawline, almost golden blond hair, perfectly shaped full mouth, and the most incredible smile with perfect teeth and those dimples. What was I going to say again? Did I say I didn't have a type? Chapter 3 KATE "What is your name, beautiful?" He was intimidating. My thoughts were in disarray, and a warning signal sounded in my head, my brain deciding that the best thing was to run away. I turned around, trying to spot Lisa. Maybe I'm just unaccustomed to that kind of environment, the people who frequent it, and how they are so direct with their indecent flirting. Aargh. Indecent flirting? Seriously, Kate? What era are you living in? "Your friend must be having fun somewhere with the guy she was dancing with. Can you give me some attention?" "Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked without looking at him, trying to make things easier for myself. "What?" Suddenly, my question seemed completely foolish. How embarrassing. I looked at him, and he was still smiling. So charming. There was something about him that stirred me in a crazy way. I promise never to drink again. "Like stalking me," I tried to explain after realizing I had been staring at him for too long. "At some point, while admiring you, I noticed you were smiling too much for someone. I was glad to see you were just a friend." "Didn't it cross your mind that she could be something else?" "If she were your girlfriend, wouldn't you have stopped her from going to the restroom with a guy?" "Kate, let's go!" Lisa appeared abruptly, taking my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor. I was dragged away by the Lisa hurricane, with no choice. On the dance floor, I saw him raise his glass to me again. Lisa was dancing by my side. Holding my hands, she encouraged me to move. Don't embarrass me, Lisa. Especially with him watching me. He was intriguing, an idiot, but intriguing, and he could add many things to the list of what he is. At some point, I gave in and started moving, imagining that he was still watching me. I started laughing by myself, imagining how ridiculous I must look, but I had fun, letting the rhythm of the music guide my movements. Minutes later, as we were walking back to the bar, I lost sight of him. He disappeared. Maybe I felt a little frustrated. Just, maybe. As for Lisa, she was now talking to a guy she had met earlier. "Kate?" "What?" "Let's go to the bathroom." I nodded. She took my hand and pulled me again, towards the back of the bar. "He's hot, don't you think?" "Yeah, interesting. Alright, I'll wait for you here in the hallway. It's a bit crowded," I said, letting go of her hand. I was feeling a bit dizzy from the lights, the loud music, and, of course, the drinks. I ended up leaning against a corner, taking a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "So, it's Kate, right?" I turned toward the voice, bumping into him. Seeing his face relieved me, and I think I gave him a smile that was too wide. But he returned it. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Why did he always seem to speak in such a charming manner? "No, if you're lucky." "I don't believe in luck," he smiled arrogantly. No. He had arrogant energy. "Oh really? And what do you believe in?" I raised an eyebrow. "Power, control," he said with palpable lust. I laughed, probably because I had drunk more than I should have. I had no idea if my thoughts still made any sense. But I wasn't shy anymore. "Well... I believe in things like freedom, will, independence..." He interrupted me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a darker corner. Did everyone decide to drag me around today? "What are you doing?" I asked before he could press me against the wall. His massive body followed, as he gripped my body and pressed himself against me, leaving me breathless. Wow! A little attitude, and I could feel other things too, it was a bit too much attitude. I placed my hands on his massive body to prevent him from getting even closer. I struggled to breathe as he rubbed against me, making me feel how hard he was. "It doesn't work that way with me..." he whispered, staring at me with a dark gaze. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. His mouth covered mine, soft, firm, and full of confidence. His tongue opened its way, exploring my mouth, becoming rough and hot, wanting more. Making me want more, so much more. He bite my mouth and then stopped, causing me to open my eyes and breathe again. I was a little dazed. It felt so good. "Come with me," he whispered. What? Go where? "No," I said, realizing it didn't matter. He took a deep breath before tilting his head and kissing my neck, making me lose my train of thought. I felt the heat rise between my legs. "I know you want to," he whispered. Heavens! He's so presumptuous and full of himself, and why is that attractive? "No," I lied, relishing the touch of his mouth on my skin. "Don't lie to me. Why not?" He stepped back, not giving me much space. For a moment, he seemed as dazed as I felt. I tried to articulate a response. "It doesn't work that way... I don't even know your name yet." "Nathan. Can we go now?" I laughed and managed to push him away using some force. "No, Nathan." "Why not?" "I have my reasons." "And I have more for you to come with me," he bit his lip and tried to get closer again. I extended my arm between us before I couldn't resist. "I advise you not to waste your time." I went around his body, leaving the space between him and the wall. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, turning to face me. "Huh?" "What you're doing." "What am I doing?" He gave an almost smile and licked his mouth before continuing. "Playing hard to get." He came closer. "Dancing for me. Teasing me. Getting me hard and saying no," he said with a mischievous look. He was being so direct, and it affected me. I could feel desire pulsating between my legs. I took a deep breath, searching for my reason. Chapter 4 KATE "Do you think I danced for you?" "We both know it was for me." "Okay, I'll let you think that. I don't want to hurt your ego. But I have to go." Running away seemed like the only option before I did something foolish. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Is there really no way to convince you to come with me?" Leave, Kate, before you change your mind. You know you want to. "No." "I don't understand." He looked at me, appearing confused. "I want." Those words shouldn't have escaped my mind. "Forget it. It's just that I don't usually do this. So it's a shame." Stop! You're starting to embarrass yourself, Collins. "Are you saying you don't usually sleep with someone you just met?" His expression was pure amusement. "More or less." "I like that." I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Like what?" "Knowing that you don't usually sleep with just any guy you meet. But I'm not just any guy." "You seem like the type of guy who sleeps with a different woman every night." He blinked a few times. "No, not every night." He tried to contain a smile. The almost smile vanished when he noticed my expression of disdain. "I think you should find someone with similar habits to yours. There must be plenty here." "I don't want anyone but you." "Really? I think you can live without me." I scoffed. "I need to go." He had already convinced me that he was a bad guy, and Lisa must be looking for me. "So, that's it?" he asked disbelievingly as I walked away, looking a bit annoyed. "Yes. Goodbye, Nathan." "Don't be so dramatic." My subconscious was going to disturb me for the rest of my life. I was sure of it. I tried to list the reasons why not to go, one... My brain failed with an image of him naked. I laughed to myself. Why does wine do that to people? I found Lisa at the bar. "Where were you? With someone around?" She asked, laughing because she knew it was nearly impossible for me to do something like that, but her expression quickly changed when she noticed my frustrated face. "Almost," I said in a melancholic tone. Am I really conflicted between the desires of my subconscious mixed with wine and my conscience? I think so. "What do you mean, 'almost'?" "I met a guy..." Who turned me on. "And I liked him." Omitting the excitement part seemed safer. "And?" "He wanted me to go home with him." "And why aren't you eatting him now?" "Because I just met him?" "And?" "You know me. I... I don't know." It would be much easier if I had already had some bed games with someone. But Lisa didn't know that. I never had the courage to tell her, someone who has always been so open. And I definitely didn't want her to try to help me. In fact, I understand all the theory, and mechanics of the thing. I've done a few things. But that guy... I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. "Oh, God! Are you seriously thinking it's wrong to be with him just because you just met him?" I guess I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so intimidating, but that also bothered me, even if just a little. She sighed. "People do it, Kate. So stop caring about such old-fashioned concepts. You're so smart and determined, but when it comes to your love life , you seem to run away." Either I'm under the influence of whiskey, or she's right. It's more likely that I'm drunk. "I guess you need to start changing your concepts about body games and fun." "You mean concepts about having game with a stranger. Maybe... Just maybe, you are right." "I am! And if you don't mind, I met someone amazing who's going to take me home. And I don't care that I just met him. In fact, that makes the experience even more exciting." She smiled. "Stop torturing me." "You don't mind if I go, do you?" "Of course not. Are you going to our apartment?" "Yes." "That means I shouldn't come back until tomorrow, right?" "Well, only if you mind the noises." "Oh, God! Have fun!" "I will." She turned to leave but turned back to me again. "It's still early. There must be some nice guy out there. Try to have fun!" "I'll try!" She smiled tenderly and winked before heading towards the exit and disappearing with her companion. Her idea of fun, sleeping with a stranger, didn't sound so bad. Maybe that's what I need, these kinds of experiences in my life. Maybe I should change, or maybe I'm just drunk. I don't care about first time thing, I don't know why I haven't had bed game with anyone yet, but I don't want to seem inexperienced with a guy like that. What is happening to me? I don't usually have this kind of thought. It must be the wine. What am I going to do? I can't go home now. Maybe I should look for Matt and Brad. Terrible idea. They're probably with someone. Everyone here has a sey life except me? Yes. Maybe I should call Sarah or another colleague, but I need to go to the bathroom first. That's the annoying part about wine. I left the bathroom and was about to send a message to Sarah when I heard the familiar voice. I followed the sound, turning into the hallway. There he was, on his back. Something inside me stirred when I saw him, my heart raced, and excitement surged through my body just at the thought of what I was about to do. I watched him as he talked to someone on his cell phone, he looked upset. I approached, trying to listen better. "No. I'm not going to discuss it now." Was he angry? "That's none of your business... I never get kicked, you idiot... Things are always under my control." He hung up and put away his phone. Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to relieve his irritation. "Tonight they are not..." he said to himself, then turned toward me, and started to walk. I hid, listening to his footsteps, until he passed me. "What things aren't under your control tonight?" I gave my best smile, leaning against the wall. He came closer with a dark and hungry expression, so close, his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine. His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely. His tongue left me breathless. "If you don't come with me, I'm going to uck you right here," he whispered. I would love to understand how a stranger had just aroused me more than anyone else ever had. "Yes," I said, still breathless. He blinked, trying to comprehend, looking into my eyes. "What?" "I'll go with you." His mouth curved into that perfect smile. "What made you change your mind?" "You'll have to admit you got lucky, no power and control," I teased. "You are my luck." Chapter 5 KATE We left the club through the back, but I didn't ask Nathan why or how he managed to get us out. He opened the car door for me—a sleek black sports model, surely a recent release. Thanks to my father's work, I had good knowledge of cars. I was curious to know more about him, and he noticed my restlessness. Now, with the car's lighting, I could see his face better. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering me a shy smile, emphasizing his extremely defined chin. "Just curious," I replied. "About what?" He fastened his seatbelt, and I did the same. "About you." "What do you want to know?" "First, are you really about to drive? Then, if it's not too impolite, we can start with your age." He smiled as if I had said something funny. "What's so funny?" "Nothing. I'm just wondering if you also want me to introduce you to my parents afterward." "Do you want me to get out of the car?" I squinted my eyes at him, containing my laughter. "Sorry. I didn't drink much; I wouldn't be taking you to my place if I had, believe me. As for age, twenty-eight. And you... tell me you're not younger than eighteen?" "Fifteen. I guess you'll have problems with the police," I teased. "I suspected that." I joined him with a smile, realizing he seemed a little tipsy as well. "Can I continue my interrogation?" I asked. "Sure." "Do you live around here?" "Upper East Side." "Okay." Well, the guy must have money—more than enough to live in that place and have a car like this. "Are you done?" "I think so." "Did you really mean it when you said you don't usually do this?" "Do what?" "Go out with someone you just met." "Yes." "So, it's like it's your first time?" he asked in a sensual tone, a play on words that made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard. "Don't worry. I promise we'll have fun... You're safe. At least as long as I'm driving." His words teased me, making desire deliciously grow between my legs, but there was also fear. My conscience was screaming at me, calling me crazy for going out with a stranger, and he could certainly be a psychopath. Screw it! I won't let go of how he makes me feel. People do this. Lisa does this a lot. What could go wrong? No, don't start listing. We stopped at a hotel in Midtown East, not far from where I live. He went straight to the underground parking lot. I thought he said he lived on the Upper East Side. Parking in one of the spaces, he got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. "Thank you." He didn't hold my hand, and I almost thanked him for that, not knowing how I would react to his touch. The tension was driving me crazy. I followed him between the cars, maintaining a safe distance until we reached an elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor and stood facing me on the opposite side of the elevator. His gaze swept over my body, making me hold my breath during the elevator ride. My heart raced, and tension filled the air. I wondered how my legs were still supporting my weight. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, taking my hand. His hand was so large—much bigger than mine. I wondered how it would feel to have his touch in other places. My nervousness increased with each passing second, causing a fluttering sensation in my stomach. "Come on. Don't make me wait any longer." His voice expressed urgency. We walked to the first door down the corridor. He took the keys out of his pocket and opened it. I come first and found myself in what shouldn't be an ordinary hotel room. It was a very luxurious suite. There was a large dining table in the corner and windows with a beautiful view. He grabbed my hand again, interrupting my analysis of the place, and we crossed the living room and a small hallway until we reached the bedroom. It was dark, with only the faint moonlight flowing through the windows, illuminating parts of the room. I gazed at the enormous bed in the center and a large glass window that opened in the middle, with beautiful white curtains that probably allowed a beautiful view of the city from the balcony. There were several other pieces of furniture, all carefully selected, I imagine. A second later, I found him with my eyes; he was taking off his shoes, sitting in a chair. He removed them quickly and stood up again. "Do you want something to drink?" Elegant and intimidating in all his movements. I thought while I followed him around the space. "No, thank you." Or maybe it would be a good idea? "You don't seem very comfortable," he said, approaching the window and opening it. A gentle breeze got into the room, hitting me and causing a delightful sensation. Before I realized it, he was already in front of me, with a hungry look that made me fear and shiver. His body was almost touching mine; I could smell his perfume, a scent, unlike anything I had ever experienced, completely intoxicating. "I can't take it anymore. I'm using all my self-control with you," he said, looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked, almost breathless, swallowing my saliva. Putting a strand of hair behind my ear, he brought his face close to my neck. "Relax... I have so many ideas..." His mouth brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my legs. I wanted to kiss him, rip off his clothes, touch every part of him, and let him do whatever he wanted with me. I lost control, grabbing his neck and kissing his mouth urgently. He made me feel something unsettling. I slid my hands through his hair and pulled. He pressed me against his body. I felt his hard press against my belly. His large hands grabbed my body, squeezing them firmly, forcing me against his body. Making me moan. I felt desire burn between my legs like never before. He pulled away for a moment. "God..." he whispered before pushing my hair to one side and kissing my neck. His mouth glided, making me imagine his mouth in other places. I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. I felt his tongue and then a bite. Oh, yes. He found the zipper of my dress on my back and opened it slowly while kissing my neck and lightly biting my skin. Then he removed the sleeves one by one, sliding his mouth in a delightful way over my shoulder, making my skin tingle. He let the dress fall around my feet. I thanked myself for never stopping going to the gym in recent years. My body wasn't perfect, but at least everything seemed to be in place, except my reason at the moment. He got on his knees behind me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my leg, where he placed a kiss. He helped me take off my shoes. Before getting up, he lightly bit my body and kissed my back. I was almost begging for more. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts anymore. My focus was on only one thing for the first time. On his body, on each touch, and us. His fingers slid over my belly and back, making me eager for a firmer touch. He found the fabric of my underwear. Pulling it very slowly, he removed it as if torturing me. I was about to beg. "You're so... beautiful," he whispered against my skin, kissing my body. He positioned himself in front of me again, slowly tracing the curves of my mountain peaks with his thumbs. "Tell me what you want," he caressed my face. I remained silent, the nervousness resurfacing. I wanted to tell him to do whatever he wanted, but my stomach churned as I realized the reality of the situation. "Are you nervous? I won't hurt you. Not much." He examined me with a wicked look. "Tell me what you want. Because then, I'll do whatever I want." Chapter 6 KATE Impatiently, he lifted me, placing my legs around his body effortlessly. I gazed into his large blue eyes, gripping his neck as he carried me to the bed. Laying me on the bed, he climbed on top of me, supporting himself with his arms to avoid crushing me due to his size. "Are you okay?" I couldn't form a word. I was trying to relax. I'm wondering if I should tell him or just let it happen. "Is something wrong?" My expression was surely giving me away. "I... " Would he find it strange? Of course, he would. I could just let him go on without telling him. But I had to say it. "You don't want to?" "I... I'm... It's my... I never..." Saying that felt so pathetic, no matter how I tried to say it. "Never?" He frowned. I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly, wishing to disappear. Ten out of ten for embarrassing yourself, Katherine. My face must have been redder than a tomato. I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with wide eyes. "No?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "You must be kidding..." I mentally thanked, for him understanding and avoiding the need for me to say the embarrassing phrase. "Are you...?" I spoke too soon. "Pure girl." It was strange and ridiculous the way the word sounded. But somehow, saying it helped me relax. And the nervousness almost disappeared. He got up, running his hands through his face and hair. I sat on the bed. He smiled, nervously or incredulously. "Is this a joke?" "No." "I can't believe it. You should have told me!" His expression transformed from incredulous to angry and thoughtful. "Sorry. It didn't seem that important." I tried to downplay it. "Not important? Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." "Did you let me bring you here?" He was exaggerating. "You're a..." he said, trying to convince himself of the fact. I got up. "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "You should have told me... " "Am I too inexperienced for you?" I was afraid of his answer. It was obvious. "I can't do this." Was he rejecting me? "Why not?" "I'm not the kind of guy for you. Not for this." "Right. I didn't know there was an ideal type of guy for pure girl." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at him. "I mean..." He stared at my body and looked away before continuing as if the sight caused him pain. He moaned. "You should do this with a boyfriend or something... What I mean is that I can't offer you more... more than tonight." "I know what you want, and I'm here because I want it too." "I can't. Tell me to take you home." "Are you rejecting me?" "Please... I can barely hold back now." "You don't have to." I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, making him sit on the edge, and I straddled him. "Don't do this." "Shhh. I know you want it. I can see it." I pressed my mouth against his, so soft and delicious. "I just want to feel you, that's all," I whispered in his ear. My hands reached for his pants, and I got his warm. "This is a terrible idea." I ignored him and took off his shirt slowly, over his head. He was big, with well-defined and firm muscles; he must have spent a lot of time exercising. I kissed his mouth, moving down to his chin and neck. His skin was warm. He turned our bodies on the bed, lying on top of me. I watched him, transfixed, as he took off the rest of his clothes. I saw his warm for the first time. Better than any other I've seen, would be a good definition. I was fascinated and a little scared by its size. I crawled to the headboard, supporting myself on my elbows, watching his every move. I wanted to touch every part of his body and lick it, maybe one more than the others. He crawled back on the bed until he was on top of me. "Are you sure?" I nodded. It was all I wanted at that moment. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much." This really shouldn't have come out of my mouth. I had already lost control of the connection between my brain and my mouth. But I confess, I was a little scared. He was... the type who seemed like he would never fit inside me, but desire outweighed fear. "I'll try to go slow." I nodded, trying to ignore the almost smile on his face. "Believe me, it will hurt me more than you." "Don't laugh." "I was thinking... that it's also my first time with a pure girl." "Can we stop saying that word?" He smiled. If he was trying to make me relax, it wasn't working. "You're a big surprise. I never imagined..." I put my fingers on his mouth to prevent him from continuing. His hand slid over my body and down my belly until it brushed over my secret place. Yes. Right there... Just the brushing almost made me lose my mind. His eyes were fixed on my face. But his hand disappeared. I closed my eyes, wanting to immediately feel him bury himself inside me, my muscles pleading within me. I felt his wet and warm tongue on one of my hills, sliding gently, and then his fingers in a slow and torturous touch around it. I arched my body on the bed, moaning. I felt his fingers sink into my legs. I heard him croon, satisfied, with his mouth still on one hill. His fingers grazed my legs, teasing me, slowly moving up to my groin. I wanted to scream and beg, but I felt my breath escape as his fingers slid over the bundle of nerves. He was driving me crazy with that teasing. "You're so wet..." He whispered, studying my face. I felt his mouth on my neck again, giving soft kisses, sliding his mouth, and gently biting my ear. "Tell me..." His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Has anyone ever gone down on you?" He's going to... I squirmed on the bed, just imagining it. I shook my head in denial, and I saw a satisfied smile on his face. He growled softly. "I'll be the first to taste you." His fingers circled my entrance. "Please..." He moistened his fingers, sliding over my clitoris. I threw my head back; nothing could be so incredible. It felt so good that it hurt. His fingers disappeared again. Please, stop torturing me. I lifted my head to see him. His weight had vanished from the mattress. I saw him bend down and pick something up from his pants on the floor. He tore open the small package with his teeth and held the base of his brother to roll it on with skill. He came back to me, kissing me while spreading my legs apart. His mouth was driving me crazy. "Do you want to peak first?" "Please." I could hardly imagine what it would be like, but it was all I wanted. "Have you ever climaxed in your life? Alone?" I shook my head. I didn't know what he was thinking. He just smiled before kissing me again. Leaving me wanting, he crawled on the bed, grabbing my hills and licking my belly until he had his head between my legs.		Indulge in story		269	https://facebook.com/61552702618591	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1180009	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967320	1723972693		505		972864307891899				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1180165	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967329	1723972693		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185841	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972693		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185965	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1185969	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972693		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185980	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972693		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185985	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972693		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185998	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972693		505		1108849420326568	1	9.6223357200576E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586032648		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/mindy-sweater-midi/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956446	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437484502_738324704819173_5160908027024819248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwSSoODS3pMAb6JNRpS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA89UmMfqvuWTT16XhmZEyexzbD_-oXHld5txGPf-XxFA&oe=661F8E95	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437665887_727355032904993_5452027151206115832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JOql7n9ykjIAb7MWtdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjLacz9z7h03gcbYAAyPddLRRDSORy6fqm1saRBIeLdQ&oe=661FB411			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186024	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972693		505		1376403429740759	1	1.6099407265088E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585894248		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-petal-pusher-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956419	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885844_805250394803261_491379009023456011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOjs7B92QuIAb7nR2KS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_fijY_aDDU_jrEiI_xfSZEOHsn090s5aan9Ok5_hx4w&oe=661F9EDE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436470209_912038517276458_3006550959159813641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vK2SpJE0rDIAb4HCaq5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA6kd9zdICngAL3j8b0Wph4bC2VKrAjBZrlJMrBmn0wEQ&oe=661FB3C0			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186086	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1186123	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186132	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1186144	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967424	1723972693		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186154	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186156	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1186180	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186182	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972693		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186197	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186203	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1186208	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967425	1723972694		505		387072690725868	2	3.871744639565E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1985698018394105		0	Horbaach			120205822830450525		horbaach.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Search: 5 results found for "nitric oxide"	Count on us to bring you products that are formulated with care, tested rigorously, and backed by decades of expertise.	https://horbaach.com/search?q=nitric+oxide&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ecommerce&utm_content=nosimage1		1708023235	1.9856980183941E+15	Horbaach	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426513719_3590945641147342_7517592862440309833_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F4uXmByTNiQAb6uKqRc&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDh7jiE3BnutoINxdRV3XpTTlaZGczvltEJStNEJNk-Sg&oe=661FA04B	person_profile	0	Horbaach Health	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426526585_1330967624277560_7147559842765520453_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aLJBibhbrWgAb5TA_bL&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAjLOSsCvX1FZk_7QKL3B_j39lwYhDUpp_WtRagVM4Yxg&oe=661FA2B8			0	3	Shop Horbäach Products		Horbaach		11281	https://facebook.com/horbaach	0		LEARN_MORE						1707984000		View Edit Delete
1186299	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186303	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186385	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972694		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176280	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967244	1723972694		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176319	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967245	1723972694		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176350	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967246	1723972694		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1176421	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967247	1723972694		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1176501	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967248	1723972694		505		921897479619033	1	1.4607058348308E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536585967448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-ever-had-tee/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956431	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437550218_1866550143776000_2615491418669840649_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-WaoxvngSNEAb7V7d65&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCvp6RVRzCMzAD6O8ubM0bbOAinj_qPAv3bcfwe8n9dLw&oe=661F8432	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922056_2000711553677902_6397388021243872833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0vZfscJBGQ0Ab567UK_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbK4z9fk04AOa2SRHSFqCyhnGbNl3IgaT7KxPOF5Y4Ng&oe=661F8C7C			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176585	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967249	1723972694		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1176615	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967250	1723972694		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1176676	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		1121157328917294				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Simple Classic Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-simple-classic-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241003.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176695	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		3685088585143627				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208195647450608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3171	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710491261	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431185653_399425242697541_4800934821448404627_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2c_tDJ8LXcAb7Ezsm5&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe97CQGi52NRfWHvV2yolulWg0oPENIwvyQhiFUz3-mA&oe=661FB38B	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431215083_726520686195338_1266531258342300820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x2_ymq8NVOcAb4Vf6zU&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7D4w1coIx25Z34qz9waCFmZj3udG9wGq3p8wV6qyNhQ&oe=661F83B2			0	3	Anniversary Sale💘don't miss out on our fantastic deals. ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1176702	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176721	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		7680282045339141				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb57wAS3&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzyVewRnezXTwGNzGj0ETXprYlgBeyt9WBRSsWImUxaw&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab6gzU1S&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxGFPrNxnjz5ZjlsO9DEx3nnItlIlCUI_weBKnMgUv3g&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176747	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967251	1723972694		505		406674325447079	1	1.4923406246803E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	114588168402434		0	SphereBuilder Community - PHL			120208588281550312		l.adbuilder.pro	Learn more		NONE	video	By Pat Harvey	Details and contact info >>>	https://l.adbuilder.pro/ICLOEi/11249		1712317250	1.1458816840243E+14	SphereBuilder Community - PHL	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434845991_435240882356265_379903722610712780_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5bfFgWKElyYAb48ityy&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDFqTBySTU7tCAo0pFA8Dq5gItCRBJ_RWyUjoTpzgCFRw&oe=661FA65E	person_profile	0		https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435921161_793562162650923_7830730189007579871_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y9Gyukt2uVkAb5KMLm_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAsHLs14440r7ZCy08sDvHHud40flhAqp3sKV692MajrQ&oe=661F98F1			0	3	Recently sold in 19382! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home&#039;s worth? Reach out for a free analysis.		SphereBuilder Community - PHL		11	https://facebook.com/spherebuilderphl	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1176797	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176781	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		1457265871529992	1	1.3897169785739E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	294527430678616		0	Servall Martin			120210487194700370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Gutter Solutions For Dry Homes	Gutter guard protection!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710172974	2.9452743067862E+14	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252311_735374178788446_4142605466614271796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egKF4AWQr_MAb6xme1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDsMNpIVLCPw_it71VqTIAiW-2A_dul6QbcQi-z811aBg&oe=661FA364	person_profile	0	Servall Martin	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432280469_2714175705398879_4118516942423375862_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wS0DrZn0q_IAb4cTSD9&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDgNQK9kdjlP_SevhDXorrv6B3wiLU8RIbA5Mk1btUrgQ&oe=661F8FB8			0	3	Gutter guard protection!		Servall Martin		1237	https://facebook.com/ServallMartin	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1176807	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		387072690725868	2	3.871744639565E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1985698018394105		0	Horbaach			120205822830450525		horbaach.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Search: 5 results found for "nitric oxide"	Count on us to bring you products that are formulated with care, tested rigorously, and backed by decades of expertise.	https://horbaach.com/search?q=nitric+oxide&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ecommerce&utm_content=nosimage1		1708023235	1.9856980183941E+15	Horbaach	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426513719_3590945641147342_7517592862440309833_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F4uXmByTNiQAb6uKqRc&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDh7jiE3BnutoINxdRV3XpTTlaZGczvltEJStNEJNk-Sg&oe=661FA04B	person_profile	0	Horbaach Health	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426526585_1330967624277560_7147559842765520453_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aLJBibhbrWgAb5TA_bL&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAjLOSsCvX1FZk_7QKL3B_j39lwYhDUpp_WtRagVM4Yxg&oe=661FA2B8			0	3	Shop Horbäach Products		Horbaach		11281	https://facebook.com/horbaach	0		LEARN_MORE						1707984000		View Edit Delete
1176811	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967252	1723972694		505		778745464164333	1	1.410897723131E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968831680515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	Hassle-Free Home Pickups	Make a difference today!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633635	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106301_1700175467176216_769234878817366333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MyRNu9o2ykgAb4HKttP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBvH7FfldWFP7WOLn58giYC53OV6YGUvGMZrE8o0-7Cag&oe=661F88CD	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431106280_727575519170693_4877381438256661494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PZIRaic8GdUAb5i0bE_&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfztBc2EOAozLChlylwdhEcR1N1F9W8uUCQKuAFvh0iA&oe=661F93BC			0	3	Make a difference today!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176843	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176850	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1176884	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176898	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		446749537920302				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176908	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176919	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176928	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176932	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967253	1723972694		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176950	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967254	1723972695		505		815965977044262				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207966317300390		djnovel.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://djnovel.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10802&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712912771	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396918_1564519864116111_3816617739996957520_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_l8fvn7_B8Ab6PdvQd&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr0XP6Xw6kDfXNXVnLuVUT-PBX9urxZPWrTpYuhbXBxg&oe=661FB1CE	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437523860_634662558835119_757154870294436698_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HnXMLAS-bJ0Ab5BFpdx&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAA93N8TwBIupVRaYmD0DQlVBzGWkWk5AyPrkkaX2G12w&oe=661F9FC1			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1178940	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967295	1723972695		505		738561615106068				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1180097	1	active	4/12/24, 7:15 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967323	1723972695		505		1057152728681307				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1185811	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972695		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185813	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972695		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185823	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972695		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185846	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967419	1723972695		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185869	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185874	1	active	4/12/24, 7:16 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967420	1723972695		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185913	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185920	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1185924	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		1433446537583673		1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340264690685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711115986	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432766660_834573728492230_2653119024926142613_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LBX4QLegLOUAb6-F4bh&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKZ_oTjJLNEzVqUOoAKjY7rcr0sCLd7Wien2H32uU9wQ&oe=661F82F7	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432759016_931550481678887_4364584942862825225_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gYqxsoR__HwAb5r_TAK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDfkT-II0QZjBODXB2xwj-sDJQEUCXtdcs3Fz5jgJjjBw&oe=661F8EA7			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712732400		View Edit Delete
1185936	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185966	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1185967	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967421	1723972695		505		435473185624544				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb7Ahl4k&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALwW5nqzxbtUrh2eKdy7AW47d3-8nyNtwuYXv-WduoAw&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb73dt7i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhJ-6427RtuaTNKRRC3gecdwAhcEQNF51JUjWDpebk3g&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1185987	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186013	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186017	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967422	1723972695		505		391088160432184	1	1.1637071679595E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586089048		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/matilda-tie-tank/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956455	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358341_441145358314921_6285437042799989404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cgvDtLOBWHAAb6ypTAX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoough5EHo7onekxJw2ShvrulgE1gdBArYIOjBaJ2zqQ&oe=661FA5AE	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436237107_818891503605743_6007190716448505383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y0l1778wh6YAb6RGgaF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVcVarFGpun4xm9rO4IjKoYmkv7B3rQG_JNkyZ7rfdQw&oe=661FAB3E			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186030	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186034	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		1558477594935075	1	8.0260274122340E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	375984579132651		0	PSEG			120207312239910041		nj.pseg.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	Visit website for savings.		https://nj.pseg.com/worryfree/worryfreeprotectionplans?utm_campaign=pseg-wf-protection&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=cam.pseg-wf-protection_med.paid-social_sou.facebook_aud.general-clicks_cre.carousel-c4		1712951250	3.7598457913265E+14	PSEG	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435608652_1784024932008298_5925592663098085628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LnFyZyQzchMAb6rxwhU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZpOUk0z3I8ry_ZgP8gIu7SSA61ZxWxyR3uq4w3ZbJcA&oe=661F853F	person_profile	0					0	3			PSEG		116452	https://facebook.com/PSEG	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186055	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		446830217780664				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208817666590608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3195	NONE	dpa	Italo Two Tone Heart Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-heart-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251012.html		1711533954	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433009143_1094015031871150_5591127576652367264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_t_CuXx1hjQAb7m9j3O&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6CU_0yKB9ctKcwUhQJjq4W5dO522GoWJgKgC930zxWw&oe=661FB9DC	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432990920_7301304659947677_8808567191386414965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4z0SVIA4AIAb4VQHwg&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAO6WNJlrmv3d6DPQ9wDKoFCoDRL5UCb9n854O6PISIDA&oe=661F833A			0	3	Make your love truly unforgettable with our dazzling jewelry💘 ✅50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
1186063	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1186064	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1186068	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		824797659484209				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208065252560608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3162	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1710312897	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433042436_936705661422649_6181265709696766668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHDhv8PztnsAb507EtB&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB8PI_sL_e8mFh-uo45jDltv0hpg_2AqRlicXPulal_8g&oe=661F994C	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432605240_1083379402956483_3359323660404319471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XGAyFH_yVHoAb6YpTyD&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCcVk8e0zguJq29bD2_kLSv2ZK1S_Eta_t1PRO1theHKw&oe=661F8579			0	3	Anniversary Sale🛒50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50 & Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
1186073	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967423	1723972695		505		1054670366088615				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189257000608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482644	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440587_920566320077228_9026954624938391058_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OoV9_9KuDOsAb7AbM7e&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDhyUDc4muKNFbbikq_Cjk2r0oEnYpYN6NeG9afjkf3aA&oe=661FADAA	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200678_427549599831901_8072567762849203976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TMh7uhw7kW0Ab6yyRuA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAYjpQrzlFJnT85KGSaWDMEleo6zccyrBlkKfyGSzyTaQ&oe=661FAB1E			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN40& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
1186237	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		1115113939523319	1	4.2441932673747E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238770079523889		0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison			120205968745600515		svdpmadison.org	Donate Now		NONE	carousel	From Clutter To Kindness	Spread kindness!	https://svdpmadison.org/home-pickups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_St.Vincent_De_Paul > CAROUSEL > Pensive_young_woman_02.26.2024&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4612824-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod		1709633475	2.3877007952389E+14	Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568988_2810998119039468_1503098018199959575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gt8wcDFRqS4Ab5AQjEA&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA47zcrffPWuvvxOXK6ZVetYva9Q12fcxjnPixas-DGLg&oe=661F8787	person_profile	0	Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430766769_983680433757612_2522925935540473186_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wbzcPjof-PsAb5BQHQp&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD4UZCvFTARW4bK0oSOZOadEikJqm50PjhN78A5hBMKUw&oe=661FAC1C			0	3	Spread kindness!		Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Madison		2968	https://facebook.com/svdpmadison	0		DONATE_NOW						1711350000		View Edit Delete
1186267	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186271	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967426	1723972695		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186311	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967427	1723972695		505		840894581163310				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186349	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186366	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186387	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186391	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967428	1723972696		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1186528	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967434	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1186626	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967439	1723972696		505		268733006303555				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
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"How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186952	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1186957	1	active	4/12/24, 7:17 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967453	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1187876	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		415149981465103	1	1.4443372428513E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210420276170230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Barefoot shoes for better health 😍	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5	https://www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons		1712836063	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437039026_782456030483519_269523748945559023_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JTtFV0KMcqIAb54kmOW&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0cM3iOcfg5HwrFNI83_BFGTy2u1XEImqhZvFykFyF1Q&oe=661FAF58	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436426472_258117650625270_6744857001494245429_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y7R7V-FtgPYAb4Wd4Jt&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDyXJK-zgHgQsDuWyJ1cfcNYeIWKqLgniHAGbwKrxF2uw&oe=661F85B0			0	3	Goodbye foot pain! Hello all-day comfort.. ☁️👣<br /> <br /> ✅ Walk and move pain-free!<br /> ✅ Recommended by orthopaedists<br /> ✅ 30 days money-back guarantee<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fpages%2F7-reasons&amp;h=AT2t3fdfHDdO5Uh0Mcop392u9FUaeEFKDUzaXwbjLUeKtX_G6xj0_QR4Itr-KC5mpts3lRICnXwBUkU2Iw0S_NLxeXwCW5ECHeNctuCiE_xhAtg7NSNPpRiCFaWCyD_8zbDrRILKyWQTreOd8qIFGg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1187886	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967484	1723972696		505		284918820965642	2	1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239933070343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075741	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/400926646_864869918637717_6776563958150691250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JS5KQZ7c3gkAb6dJRq2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCSqTJ3n5N_hdYnhj3sQvbu15W53ZA9KKoLraBihtruqg&oe=661FA593	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/403105591_648568374100232_1582848835437761301_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WG9kv9Z7MaEAb7CXQ8z&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa_Kd4_hIdfabN_UA7Cws3fJpx7UomC7SO1dpDcQebzw&oe=661F9268			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187896	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		1081181716416926		1.7359820969257E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			23857239929410343		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1700075750	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401774037_926568572278058_3038927042568970215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AdQjeSQzasMAb6HdXBq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcr2i29yebsTT7VaiLQ3_GGMsZNkNt2ZPIIrRqu9GVvg&oe=661F861E	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/401771176_1006205653772118_4507507389395863064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FVWRRLPJb2cAb6Hlcpe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcSkVglXTwX9D0JXrzQcQlUWLvbmlg3FQmezic2ET4gQ&oe=661FA0EE			0	3	Trading Monthly SPX Credit Spread sounds confusing. There are many different strategies that people use to trade the SPX and it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Join us at this workshop where we'll show you exactly how to do everything from selecting the strikes, expiration periods, as well as different ways of mitigating risk in case things go wrong. https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187899	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187902	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		918239916570813	2	2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915499320344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163380	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425491521_362226029936797_2991926524310497905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sg2Oy7FqM3AAb6nTqzO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXcF-Nu3lMB9ZKRuonGJKDlKyOWUcRv5kmrHu71pO4FA&oe=661FAC32	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425516513_1129833127909339_9021891981936206725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dkmXxIEcEskAb6YM9O9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAdvPxan3o2mqgw8KVjfm7BfsxoQYxUBi2IsIMmdAr5w&oe=661F9728			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187907	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187909	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967485	1723972696		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187913	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		932648651764867		2.6418995226567E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205915404930344		simpleoptionstrategies.com	Sign Up		NONE	dco	SPX Credit Spread: Free Workshop		https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		1707163282	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425733631_1049423106291417_431094565617143871_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VOeUXowlHYQAb4MukS4&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC100YBdafoFNaL2zroNt5N-aTcfMAJmFnOgeVPPo0C4A&oe=661FB5F2	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425799758_406213651809630_8108372001893784277_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLoABu8L7SEAb4Vompy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjKSvRTelFe1EU0XV1OSDxtrBF-lRtD44seLidXx1WHQ&oe=661FA7EE			0	3	Hey there! Are you curious about options trading? Discover the power of 7DTE SPX Credit Spreads in my free webinar! In This 7 DTE SPX Workshop, YOU WILL LEARN: ✅ How to identify the optimal strikes and strike prices for maximum profitability ✅ The right number of contracts and expiration periods to use for 7DTE ✅ Effective strategies to mitigate potential threats to your 7DTE trades ✅ When to choose between an Iron Condor or a vertical spread ✅ Critical knowledge on when not to trade 7DTE (Very important). Don't miss out! Join me by clicking the link below: https://simpleoptionstrategies.com/7dte-credit-spreads-aw		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		SIGN_UP						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187915	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187918	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		1415530162724090	1	3.7713757197755E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	230304337720707		0	Simple Option Strategies			120205776244050344		event.webinarjam.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	My Favorite Credit Spread Trade		https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		1706897911	2.3030433772071E+14	Simple Option Strategies	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424735041_386164624008298_4679095294099227379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFjM4drZ6EQAb5_4J61&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2Q_9nTzH9IiLc53XaFVQjUb0ER4-6RLriyoX_aUQo6A&oe=661F9236	person_profile	0	Al Losada	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425008156_916188003195048_2486759347732869632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWV0Ljd1qroAb7ypaiC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK5SIq_pWg_YgY9096FzbuoNDvsrPL_RabbE4h5mwGag&oe=661FB8FC			0	3	Ready for Financial Stability? 💹💵 Learn My Proven Monthly SPX Credit Spread Trade Strategy - The Key to Reliable Monthly Income! 💸📊 Limited Seats Available for Our Workshop - Reserve Your Spot Today! 👉💼 Click the Link Below to Get Started: 👇💻 https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/register-aw-monthly		Simple Option Strategies		1535	https://facebook.com/simpleoptionstrategies	0		LEARN_MORE						1708329600		View Edit Delete
1187922	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		793146902699782	6	1.0968745049686E+15		1712818800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	101065786425886		0	Fit Fusion Hub			120205340264730685		fitfusionhub.co	Shop now		NONE	video	Free Worldwide Shipping!	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Reviews!	https://fitfusionhub.co/products/electric-protein-shaker		1711116031	1.0106578642589E+14	Fit Fusion Hub	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432067347_1063576474745018_724497605306183776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sJ8xozyyWl8Ab4NBwB8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCSZ6_CSm4IJeANrfcGpixAHZ1xwCCtoJ3MUCtocamJTg&oe=661FA06C	person_profile	0		https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432063006_408226161794850_4398130670109671840_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3SANrAQcrwAb5t6bir&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDETWgeaaLVr-qIVlhrpdumPW1-vZ19cUApPohsjL6WzQ&oe=661FAC05			0	3	Shake up your routine with the 650ml Electric Protein Shaker – Perfect blends on the go with auto-stirring technology! 🥤✨		Fit Fusion Hub		11	https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub	0		SHOP_NOW						1712646000		View Edit Delete
1187927	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187928	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		358091159900347				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120209135068630608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3207	NONE	dpa	Italo Detachable Cross Design Titanium Steel Men's Wedding Band	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-detachable-cross-design-titanium-steel-men-s-wedding-band-241001.html		1712050538	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434643274_987284452960346_214362754037350883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9GTELXfvNC4Ab5oFTsP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9LYrjbA21Ib_-jBLLA7k1FN7xS2qoneQlP_7i7fBtAw&oe=661FAB96	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658126_818641930103617_2205897559276095551_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yxu1uxYK1DwAb5uQYBy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8hkH16KheMtyrIqGtMvwv2xMAGohFYRFSig2NP78rgw&oe=661F9DB5			0	3	Take your gifts to the next level 🎁 ✅ 50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ & Any order 10% off Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛡		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
1187936	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		911258590745903				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120205873446190608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3217	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Interwine Titanium Steel Couple Rings	✅One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-interwine-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251002.html		1706684484	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422886373_6298290673607849_4056989406742510175_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IUFaj0Fo-98Ab43z3ef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfErFV5HasTcG4RPPKY-Rqcxuir4qJoYD51zaOhth3hg&oe=661FB815	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422914523_398713282556732_8682253032191553078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9dTZ8_e8iJUAb4H8wtO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCReeTFUA5M8adfVf26ebf9ocNbFhmiO9oTZ_2fmrmIYg&oe=661FB309			0	3	It's the moment you've been waiting for -our fresh new arrivals are here!✨ ✅Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo 💎Free shipping & Easy return💎		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1707897600		View Edit Delete
1187938	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1187939	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967486	1723972696		505		332020269852346				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1452918118133977		0	Italo Jewelry			120208189102660608		italojewelry.com	Shop Now	3168	NONE	dpa	Two Tone Forever Love Titanium Steel Couple Rings	🌻One Year Warranty & 60-day Return	https://www.italojewelry.com/italo-two-tone-forever-love-created-white-sapphire-titanium-steel-couple-rings-251007.html		1710482339	1.452918118134E+15	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398120_1067881067844074_734890648458212263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vUgRcQesDwAAb4pGC1K&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAkI2SBt32_2cF-bnnz7NhG6FbrkCPj1BvSBuDX3YcMVg&oe=661F9936	person_profile	0	Italo Jewelry	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432408379_375319992084435_7167657741959232281_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X8M1CrQcDL4Ab60ULIr&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAK1tQWmyycR-PjQ1HEAh5SEaX28wGu6EHJ98SwSvbwbQ&oe=661F947D			0	3	Anniversary Sale🌻50% OFF buy 1⃣ get 1⃣ ,code:AN50& Any order 10% off,code:AN10🔥 Shop Now👉:http://italojewelry.io/Cwo Free shipping & 60-day return🛩		Italo Jewelry		68160	https://facebook.com/italojewelry	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
1187976	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967487	1723972696		505		469669615573270	1	1.3095709637642E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101667659496046		0	Free Rein Coffee Company			120210059140040580		freereincoffee.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel			https://freereincoffee.com/		1712958050	1.0166765949605E+14	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437402293_1465992001000153_5775338466228672306_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=DBWH8PhL1fMAb74_FV6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBG1JZXrZul3d8cBXtZnWlokIBakdiwderLxT2gnjx1dw&oe=661F9016	person_profile	0	Free Rein Coffee Company	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546104_832943958671500_4156223046095637446_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RA8aQlHujvEAb7uxPeL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi6PitLnSS-SkpSmLa_YQZGnaKRu2YpiIPKtkwzlDxdA&oe=661FA03F			0	3			Free Rein Coffee Company		10644	https://facebook.com/FreeReinCoffeeCompany	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188029	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972696		505		778887797507477				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100843925692644		0	Nextfineearrings			120206882174510232		nextearrings.com	Shop Now	1764	NONE	dpa	25% Off Buy 2 Or More, Use Code:M25		https://www.nextearrings.com/emerald-cut-emerald-sapphire-drop-earrings-for-wome-e1992		1712041245	1.0084392569264E+14	Nextfineearrings	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433997802_1080831849654935_963393458235634852_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Unv94odYgwMAb5SM_mY&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQbZclYg8u8BwZoiFiAJFocW34KegOjs_ytrshcRCC0w&oe=661FB567	person_profile	0	nextearrings_official	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434048342_790745465926688_2304591502328670332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tw5ueePMQfwAb6WyeEn&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBIS4NjouPeMtAXJdh9sN7QF1QbP-9azFp7tlhTnuvR9A&oe=661F9B81			0	3	🎁Pre-Mother's Day Sale😉 ✨ From timeless to trendy, we have it all with amazing deals! Free shipping on any order, no minimum. Shop Now!🎁 Show More👉https://bit.ly/3qQjR8a		Nextfineearrings		9234	https://facebook.com/100076128372142	0		SHOP_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
1188049	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967489	1723972696		505		3257834227858415	1	3.7757143170999E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	113222160318026		0	Servall - Paris, TN			120210481180440370		servallpestcontrol.com	Contact Us		NONE	carousel	Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage	Expert gutter solutions!	https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/		1710166404	1.1322216031803E+14	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gcG5xjItWQEAb4L5HTP&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA7D76u7nAgQtGhDCkOz_qU-mVLYQxxpr-lhxWoOxf5rg&oe=661F9B48	person_profile	0	Servall - Paris, TN	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GJsHuVH6D_UAb6lZSDZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCX4D4lj3MOtYmOaj3Nbg7IfT1wgYH3XIl-BlRNv9EW7Q&oe=661FA948			0	3	Expert gutter solutions!		Servall - Paris, TN		638	https://facebook.com/ServallParis	0		CONTACT_US						1710572400		View Edit Delete
1188083	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967490	1723972696		505		788465809894154				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188106	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		1006058570943362				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188119	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		785282673187107				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4KVkhf&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9L689XyG4qgcnBQc5OoL5WJ1NFJ0dgwW6ACRjvRjyAg&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab5JrWFR&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1DhD39DhIde8mdquICka0aGDq7sljkR4yGkpCqOLhzA&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1188126	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967491	1723972696		505		1027901995710960	1	1.3574878916045E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207926190920390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712829841	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435008709_942622290940184_6009437507454474673_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qnc0dMdCPGgAb5XYs8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCxN21skgHYAoJWeOn09bf1jynKwCZ55tC6fwRpIdmi1Q&oe=661F9EF5	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435091349_434384678955091_2646397911075982454_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8iaj5PxXQfUAb58OpVJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfYc3ToQVa1jYtOztFmjkxur9Zpin01PEtod9FHWU8xw&oe=661F97CF			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188131	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967492	1723972696		505		1575899299834502	1	1.1480097296872E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207927364160390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712831002	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477948_398645309677450_5776163592333430282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUnP_vljoKUAb4H4a3-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALUj5_MITC3cvDxf2Ul4zBM3Y5CeX6NOU26pi86b8Rvw&oe=661F9777	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465435_439198698493854_8039901785828764390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vas34GrHiy4Ab4V4D_i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcyxMwQ3IA6mu4oKM69ThZCh7qY0p-45sga0RsA-IFlg&oe=661F9289			0	3	Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every married man had two phones. Mason's lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom, "Thank you for the birthday present, Mason." Zoe stared at her husband's another phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. The bathroom door was opened. Mason wrapped a towel over his waist. "How long are you going to look at it?" He took the phone away, glanced at her, not the least bit embarrassed that she caught him seeing someone. Looking he left without any explanation, tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air. Zoe didn't expect that she would receive another bad news - her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage and needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he answered this time. Zoe said at once, "Mason. My dad is…" Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, "Is this about the money? I talk to you later." Zoe was looking at the TV screen which was broadcasting a piece of news. 'The director of Lockwood Pharmaceutical Group rented the entire Amusement Park and made a lady’s day.' The fireworks were exploding throughout the entire sky as a young lady sitting in a wheelchair was smiling widely. Her husband Mason was standing right behind her, holding his phone. Zoe blinked and said painfully after a long pause, "Where are you, Mason?" But he already hung up the phone. What did 6 years of wholehearted love and care as a full-time housewife give her in return? Zoe was consumed by desperation. She looked at her wedding ring and later pawned it to pay for her father's surgery. ... The next Morning, Mason got up and changed his clothes at home. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing. Mason stared for a few seconds than asked the servants, "Where’s Zoe?" The servant said cautiously, "Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her..."		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188161	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967509	1723972696		505		333714909719445				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	161163937074221		0	Massive story			120209366210710002		ocankn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1711524546	1.6116393707422E+14	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=43J_5IBIlKcAb7XaloB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBUhxIP7AbqVvd_zvUI08nY3mltK_2k2nV1ik8NmuIxag&oe=661F980A	person_profile	0	Massive story	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tr-D5IrkwjwAb4_VaWX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAozVhh5EPNIBS00GBw2-G5GwrR7wTpaLCt0PqpkE_Oqg&oe=661F9D43			0	3	It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked him—a lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him … Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel … what are you saying …" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are … Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or … did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine … Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just like—" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any way—not ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that …" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today …" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested.		Massive story		646	https://facebook.com/61552493980605	0		LEARN_MORE						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1188167	1	active	4/12/24, 7:18 PM	8/18/24, 4:18 AM	1712967515	1723972696		505		392836180398858				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	121885057680157		0	Random Reading			120207975262040342		qweasdzxcgroup.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	😍Read the next chapters👉		https://qweasdzxcgroup.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712832972	1.2188505768016E+14	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435250663_1645513812924955_3873270136684115088_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D5w-RCRz9_AAb5St4f7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfArSE9n-Cvc1ElY-8WtPXs1_s4TdIJgpuZIwdi0iDwB-w&oe=661F9B2D	person_profile	0	Random Reading	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435138804_1481501156105398_2354184194468737056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fMvYXzzUb4oAb6aj2VX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCzAhNXgNokoIQqNyETRA37ExiM7HHOK-wZcmrhBwEu0w&oe=661FA7F4			0	3	"Someone's expecting on this floor!" "How did you know?" "I saw the test kit in the toilet!" Alanna Jacinto had just stepped into the office building when she heard these words. She stopped in her tracks and lifted her eyes to look at the two interns who had been talking just now. As soon as the interns saw her looking at them, their expressions immediately dropped as they dipped their heads and resumed their work. Alanna then recollected herself and entered her office. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing with notifications. She tapped on the notification bar and realized that someone had spread the news into their office group chat. If there was one thing this office didn't lack, it was the sheer volume of gossip every day. Alanna stared as more and more people joined in the discussion in the group chat. She could hear her head throbbing. She'd been too careless. She should have wrapped the test in paper towels before throwing it away in the trash. If Hades Florentine learned about this, she didn't even want to think about the trouble she'd get into with him. The assistant knocked on the door and entered her office. "Ms. Jacinto, Mr. Florentine would like to see you in his office." Alanna's hands under the table clenched into fists. "Ms. Jacinto?" Alanna hummed and said, "Okay, I got it." … Alanna stood at the door to the CEO's office and took a deep breath. But before she could even knock, the door swung open from the inside. Hades' chief secretary then walked out of the room. "Ms. Jacinto, the CEO is waiting for you inside." Alanna smiled and said, "I know. Thank you." The office was filled with the scent of musk from the burning incense. Hades must have had some to drink during lunch. He was now lying back against the couch, his legs lazily bent toward the side. His black shirt was half untucked, making him look slightly disheveled yet seductive at the same time. His eyes were only half open, but even then, his side profile was simply to die for. Alanna sighed. It was no wonder Hades was always surrounded by pretty women. He was the perfect package, after all, not just in power and social status but also in his looks and body proportions. Any woman who looked at him would feel her legs turn into jelly. The only problem was that Hades was a cold and ruthless creature. He had never opened up his heart to any women around him. And that included her as well. "Come here," he ordered emotionlessly. Alanna recollected her thoughts and walked over to him. "Is there anything I may help you with, Mr. Florentine?" Hades' lips curled up into a smirk. He tugged her down into his lap and snuck his hands under her prim and proper office wear. Alanna's expression was tense. She knew Hades too well. As long as he had something to drink, he would always want to sleep with her after. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the day. And every time he was done in bed, he would return to his sober self, and his hangover would disappear. She supposed this was a way of curing someone of their tipsiness that was unique to Hades. "I still have a meeting to attend later," Alanna said, stopping him. However, Hades was already nibbling at the side of her neck. "If that's the case, you need to hurry up." Then, he kissed on the spot he'd just nibbled. "Don't leave marks." Hades chuckled, his breath stinking of wine. "If you'll just do as I say, then I won't leave any marks on you." Alanna dug her nails into herself to control her body from responding needily to him. "But I'm not feeling well today. Can I just use my hand instead?" Hades narrowed his eyes. The hint of tipsiness in his eyes was gone. However, they were dark with lust. "You're not feeling well? Are you on your period? It shouldn't be coming yet." He then reached farther into her clothes to check if she was on her period. After he was done checking, his face turned dark and grim. "You just don't want to do it, do you?" Alanna repeated, "I have a meeting later with Terrence Abbott. We're going to talk about the terms of our contract, and it's going to take up quite some energy." Hades just placed his chin on her shoulder lazily as he swiftly and familiarly unhooked her underwear from under her clothes. "You've worked hard, Ms. Jacinto," Hades said, still not letting go of her. In fact, he only got more aroused and touched her everywhere. Alanna was silent for a brief moment. She knew that there was no escaping today. "Then, go easy on me today." "Would it make you feel less unwell if I went easy on you?" Hades looked and acted his part like a well-mannered gentleman. However, he was wild in bed. Every time they were in bed, he would talk dirty to her to make her blush and attack her until she was sore from the inside out. As of now, Alanna's circumstances had changed. She was terrified of him. "Fine, I'll be gentle this time. But if you beg me to do you harder later, don't blame me for being a beast." Alanna's face and neck turned as red as a tomato. Hades loved it when her usual pale complexion flushed a bright red. He leaned forward and licked her earlobe before capturing it between his lips. Alanna felt goosebumps prickling from her skin from the wet, warm attack on her ear. Hades just laughed in response. "You're so sensitive." He then held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. The taste of wine invaded Alanna's mouth. She was slightly reluctant and struggled this time. Hades must have felt her reluctance. He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his body. Alanna grunted in pain. "Hades, gentler, please." However, Hades pulled her even more roughly against himself. "Ally, behave." Alanna went weak whenever he called her "Ally". Hades finally seemed pleased with her behavior and carried her into his restroom. … It was a whole hour later when they were finally done. Hades had tired Alanna out so much that she leaned against his body while all covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Hades' hands kept wandering all over her body. "Why were you spacing out so much today?" Alanna was quiet for a bit. Then, she propped herself up and got to her feet, wobbling over to her clothes on the floor and picking them up. "Mr. Florentine, have you ever thought about marrying and starting a family?" Hades' eyes frosted over immediately. "No. Why?" His answer couldn't have been more straightforward. Alanna felt a chill through her bones. She knew that he would never marry her. He would also never want children. Still, she wanted to test the waters. "No reason. Just voicing my thoughts out loud." Afterward, she pulled her clothes over herself and stepped into the toilet. Alanna touched her lower belly. She couldn't tell what she was feeling. She just knew there was a throb in her heart that was starting to spread. "Didn't you say you had a meeting to attend? Why are you spacing out?" Hades appeared at the door. He was buttoning his shirt—another clean, crisp shirt. Alanna hurriedly removed her hand from her belly and turned around to look at him. After she was sure he wasn't looking at her suspiciously, she sighed in relief and said, "Terrence is a tough nut to crack. I might end up working overtime today." Hades just hummed nonchalantly. Alanna tidied herself up and splashed some cold water on her face. She waited until the blush on her face faded before walking out of the toilet. At the door, Hades suddenly called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "I heard that someone was expecting on your floor. It's not you, is it?" Chapter 2 Alanna's back went stiff when she heard that. She turned around and asked as naturally as she could, "If I were to answer 'yes,' what would you do?" Hades' eyes turned dim, and his stare turned icy cold. It was a vast difference from how hot he'd been just less than 30 minutes ago. "What else would I do? Schedule a surgery for you at once." Alanna's face slowly turned pale. She clasped her hands tightly as Hades stared at her with an increasingly chilling look. "Alanna. Don't forget the rules of our game." Alanna stiffened at once. That was right. Everything between them was just a game to him. After all, she was a nobody and didn't deserve to be with him. She was born in a regular household, while Hades was the first son of the eldest son in the Florentine family. He was the true heir to all of his family's wealth and social status. Her relationship with him started as a mere coincidence. Three years ago, her mother, Tara Thornton, had been involved in an accident, and she needed money to save her. So, Alanna swallowed her pride and went looking for her birth father to borrow some money from him. She'd waited outside that luxurious mansion for an entire night and even passed out halfway through. However, she didn't receive a single penny from that man. In the end, it was Hades, who happened to be passing by the area, who saved her. After waking up in the hospital, Hades' first question to her was, "Do you want to play a game?" The game was an adult game. She didn't have to use her brain or skills for it. All she had to do was spread her legs for him, and that was it. Her response to his question? "Do I get paid for it?" Hades broke into a wide smile then. He praised her and said, "That's more like it." However, for the past three years, Hades was the only one who was still playing his "game". Meanwhile, Alanna only fell deeper and harder for him. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years, after all. However, she also understood that this was a one-sided crush that would never come to fruition. Alanna chuckled, suppressing the pain that was spreading rapidly from her heart to the rest of her body. "Don't worry, Mr. Florentine. I'm not the one who's expecting." Hades leaned back on the couch as his thin lips curled up in a smirk. "Of course. Ms. Jacinto, you've always been a smart lady. And I've never had to worry much about you." Alanna answered him with another grin. Before he could catch on to her true feelings, she quickly excused herself and walked out of the CEO's office. Renee Atkinson, her assistant, was already waiting for her at the entrance. "Ms. Jacinto, the meeting is starting in five minutes." Alanna nodded and took a few seconds to recompose herself. Then, she headed for the meeting rooms. … The meeting finally ended around 10:00 pm that night. Terrence was a sly old fox, and Alanna had nearly walked into his traps one too many times. Both sides of the party refused to budge. It wasn't until the end that they finally compromised and agreed on a price they could both accept before signing the contract of the year. Terrence was in the middle of packing up his things when he glanced over at Alanna. "Ms. Jacinto, shall we head out and grab a drink together?" Alanna smiled and replied, "It's a little too late for that, Mr. Abbott. How about another time? It'll be my treat." Terrence ignored her rejection and asked her out again. "Are you not even going to humor me with a single drink?" Alanna felt a headache coming as soon as she heard this. Ever since she met him last year to discuss their projects and collaborations, he had been pursuing her nonstop. She'd rejected him many times before. However, because they kept seeing each other for work, Terrence never gave up on her despite her constant rejections. "But we've all worked hard on this project. Ms. Jacinto. Don't you think you shall reward everyone here with a drink, too?" Terrence then looked at the other colleagues in the meeting room. Seeing the anticipation on her colleagues' faces, Alanna had to cave in. Terrence was the one who picked the venue. However, they never thought that they would run into Hades there. Terrence led everyone into a private room at the bar. He then took Alanna alone to a different private room, saying that he had an appointment with someone else. Since Alanna's and Terrence's social circles often overlapped, Alanna didn't think much about it and followed him in. As soon as she stepped into the room, she immediately caught sight of Hades. He was surrounded by a crowd of pretty ladies, and Alanna even recognized a few D-list celebrities in the crowd. Hades' sleazy friends were also in the private room. A woman was seated next to each of them. Meanwhile, a D-lister was seated right next to Hades. Lust was written in her eyes and showing in her body language. However, Hades just leaned back on the couch lazily. He looked the epitome of sleaziness, yet there was a distant look in his eyes. He didn't respond to the D-lister's approaches. Nonetheless, he didn't reject her advances either. Chapter 3 There was ambiguious atmosphere in the air. The D-lister kept on leaning excessively toward Hades. Alanna spared Hades a glance before shifting her gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile, when Hades saw Alanna entering the room, his brows only lifted very slightly. But he didn't move otherwise. On the other hand, it was his younger brother, Yves Florentine, whose eyes lit up as soon as he saw Alanna. He turned around to eye Hades for a bit. Then, he looked at Alanna with a smirk on his face. "Ms. Jacinto, here for a drink?" "I couldn't say no to Mr. Abbott's invitation." Alanna didn't force her way to the center of the room where everyone else was. Instead, she chose a quieter corner and sat down. "Why are you sitting so far away? Come sit closer to us," Yves said, already prepared for some drama. Even if nobody else knew about Hades' relationship with Alanna, Yves did. That D-lister next to Hades never piqued Hades' attention from the start. But as soon as Alanna appeared, the celebrity was as good as invisible to Hades. Alanna was a beautiful woman. She had a pretty, innocent-looking face, but the look in her eyes was hypnotizing and mysterious. Even if she was in her office clothes, a smile from her could turn any man's world upside-down. Yves had to admit that Hades had excellent taste in women. If Alanna were in showbiz, she would have been very popular with just her looks alone. It didn't matter whether she was skilled or not. Yves wanted to bring Alanna closer to Hades. However, Alanna didn't move from her seat. She just kept to herself quietly in her corner. She didn't want to place herself in the center of attention. It wasn't like Hades needed her by his side. If she forced her way in, she would be the awkward one out instead. Terrence poured out a drink for Alanna and brought it over to her. "Ms. Jacinto, have a drink with me?" Alanna did not take the drink from him. "I'm not feeling well today. I'll just have some iced water instead." Terrence looked unhappy. It had been difficult for him to even invite Alanna out to a bar like this. He wanted to get drunk with her and perhaps sleep with her after they both got tipsy. He never thought that Alanna would turn out to be such an ice queen and reject his offer. "Mr. Florentine, Ms. Jacinto is such a cold person. How could she refuse to drink with us at a time and place like this?" Hades glanced over at them and stared at how Terrence was leaning against Alanna's arm. Alanna leaned away and created a gap between herself and Terrence. Hades scoffed and said, "Mr. Abbott, what's the point of whining to me if you can't get her to drink with you? Even if I'm her supervisor at work, I have no authority over her private life." Terrence just chuckled darkly and said, "If that's the case, don't mind me if I make her cry afterward." The meaning hidden in his words was quite plain for all to see. After all, they were adults, so they immediately understood what he meant. Everyone began to riot. Alanna found herself looking at Hades. But Hades only briefly glanced at her before looking away. There was no emotion whatsoever in his eyes. Alanna's lips curled up in a slight smile. Her heart throbbed in pain, but she ignored it as she forced herself to look away calmly. Yves looked at Hades first, then at Alanna. So, were they going to continue pretending that nothing happened? Yves chuckled and decided to fan the fire. "Mr. Abbott, are you trying to say that you've got your eyes on Ms. Jacinto?" Terrence admitted it openly. "It's obvious, isn't it? I've been pursuing her for a very long time." He suddenly leaned closer to Alanna and asked teasingly, "Ms. Jacinto, won't you just give me a chance?" "Oh!" Yves clapped his hands in delight. "Are you trying to snatch my brother's employees right under his nose, Mr. Abbott?" Terrence didn't seem afraid of anything. He just looked at Hades and said, "I'd love to. I admire Ms. Jacinto very much. I just don't know if Mr. Florentine would be willing to let her go." Hades briefly glanced at him. There was a dark look in his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether or not I'm willing to let her go. Most importantly, it's a decision only Ms. Jacinto can make for herself. If she wants to leave, I can't possibly force her to stay, can I?" He paused before looking at Alanna. Then, he asked coldly, "Ms. Jacinto, would you like to leave me for Mr. Abbott?" Chapter 4 Alanna froze. She understood what Hades was implying. If she were to nod, he wouldn't stop her from leaving. In other words, Hades couldn't care less whether she stayed with him or not. Alanna was never interested in Terrence from the start. Had she been asked this question in the past, she would have rejected the offer immediately. However, that day, she suddenly felt rebellious. She didn't want to keep living like this. She stroked her belly subconsciously. Alanna didn't want to use the baby as an excuse to force Hades into taking responsibility for her. After all, it was nothing but a game between two adults. There was no responsibility involved in the first place. Furthermore, she couldn't force someone like Hades to stay with her. And it wasn't like she was dying to bear his child. But if he wanted her to get rid of this baby, then what about the next one? Hades had never had an unprotected bed thing with her. He was very particular about it because he didn't want her to be expecting his child. He always used a rubber with her. However, there was a time last month when he was particularly rough with her and ended up tearing the rubber. He made her take the morning-after pill right away, but it didn't prevent her from having his child. Alanna knew that there was no way she could save this baby. But even if she got rid of this baby now, was there a possibility that she would get expecting again? She'd wasted her entire youth on him. She didn't want her body to suffer the same fate. She'd saved up some money for Tara's hospital bills. And she'd seen all of Hades' coldness and ruthlessness. She didn't want to stay and continue playing games with him any longer. She thought it would have been a hard decision to make. But now, since he brought it up himself, she wasn't going to waste the opportunity. She met Hades' gaze and asked, "Are you saying that I can leave with Mr. Abbott if I nodded now?" Hades narrowed his eyes at her. "It seems as though you've been thinking about it." Alanna laughed bitterly and said something she would have never said in the past. "If Mr. Abbott's offer is more favorable to me, I don't mind considering it." Crash! The wine glass on the table next to Hades was suddenly swept to the floor by his legs. The entire room fell silent at once. Hades' eyes were as cold as ice. Even if the look on his face was calm and collected, anyone who knew him could tell that he was furious. "I see. Your heart is no longer with the company after all." Then, he laughed coldly and said, "If that's the case, Ms. Jacinto, kindly resign from your position and finalize all the proceedings with the HR department tomorrow." "Alright," Alanna said, getting up to her feet. She then said, "Enjoy the rest of the night, Mr. Florentine. I'm feeling tired, so I'll be excusing myself now." Alanna turned and left without a backward glance. She was afraid that if she turned and saw Hades again, she would lose the courage to walk out of the door. He was someone she'd buried so deeply in her heart for many years, after all. All it took would be just one look for her to do all his bidding for him. Maybe she got her courage tonight only because she made a rash decision. But she wasn't going to regret it. She wouldn't allow herself to regret it. She couldn't let herself continue to fall harder and deeper for him while he looked on from the side, watching her head toward her demise. After Alanna left, the private room was still as silent as ever. Hades' expression was so jarringly cold that one could see icicles forming on his nose. Terrence also finally realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Yves looked at Hades cautiously. It seemed as if his joke had gone overboard this time. Even Hades' friends dared not say anything. Only the silly D-lister seated next to Hades couldn't read the room. Thinking that now was a good time to get on Hades' good side, she piped up, "Mr. Florentine, she's such a disobedient woman. Why don't you find someone else who's nicer to you?" "Get out," came Hades' frighteningly calm voice. The celebrity blinked in confusion. She still couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you still mad—" "I said, get out of here." Hades had always never let his emotions show. But this time, his eyes were turning red with rage. Chapter 5 The D-lister was so shocked that she immediately backed away. "Don't be angry, Mr. Florentine. I'll get out of your hair now." The celebrity left, along with the other women in the room. Only Hades and his friends were left. Yves suddenly regretted letting his joke get out of hand. But it wasn't like he'd never cracked such jokes in the past. It was just that Alanna used to behave like a scared little lamb. She would have never dared to say what she just said, let alone leave them hanging like this. That day, however … "Hades, should we ask Ms. Jacinto to come back and explain that it was just a joke? Ms. Jacinto is a very capable worker. She probably didn't mean to leave. Maybe she's just tired, and that's why she's a little grumpy today." Hades' cold smile returned. He said, "I don't need her to be a manager at my company. Mr. Abbott can have her if he wants to." Terrence just chuckled sheepishly. He suddenly didn't know how to respond to Hades' words. If he still couldn't tell that there had been something between Hades and Alanna by now, he would have to be sillier than a sack of rocks. "I was just joking, Mr. Florentine. Who would dare to snatch someone from under your nose?" Terrence's words didn't manage to soothe Hades. Instead, it made him even angrier. What he said was right. Nobody would dare to snatch someone from under his nose. But it was obvious that the certain someone no longer wanted to stay with him anymore. … Alanna exited the bar and took a cab home to her parents' house. Ever since Tara had been admitted to the hospital three years ago, Alanna had seldom returned to this home. Her stepfather, Garrett Jacinto, had always had a bad temper. He also had a drinking problem and would often beat Alanna and Tara up. Alanna had asked Tara to divorce him many times. But Tara just didn't have the heart to do it. It wasn't until three years ago, when Tara went to pick up a drunk and raging Garrett from the bar, that they got into a huge fight that ended with him pushing Tara out of the car. Since then, Garrett had only become worse. He wouldn't go home for days, and when he did, he would be deadly drunk. Alanna initially thought that he wouldn't come home today. But she didn't expect that he'd be home and bring a woman back with him as well. She stood at the door, listening to Garrett's and the woman's voices from inside the house. Her hands froze when she went to unlock the door. All of a sudden, she felt a huge urge to throw up. She hurriedly suppressed the nausea and rushed down the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the ground again that the nausea went away. Alanna hurried out of the neighborhood and went to a hotel nearby instead. After taking a shower, she took out her phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Chelsey Soltz. "Are you working tomorrow? Can you arrange a checkup for me?" Chelsey replied to her message at once. "Are you feeling ill?" Alanna hesitated for a moment before replying. "I think I'm expecting." Chelsey called her the next instant. "Oh, my Goodness! Oh, my Goodness! Alanna Jacinto! What's up with you? Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" Alanna looked up at the ceiling and hesitated again. "No." "No? Then how did you get expecting? Don't tell me you got it from a night affair! Ally, you've changed! You're not the good girl I used to know anymore!" Chelsey fake-sobbed. Alanna smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop acting like that. Can you arrange a checkup for me?" "No, wait, you haven't told me about your situation." After thinking for a while, Alanna finally replied, "He's a longtime bed partner of mine." "Does he know you're expecting?" "I'm not planning to tell him." "Alanna, don't be silly! You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself! Getting expecting is a huge thing. Since that man put a baby in you, he should be held responsible for this incident!" Alanna fell silent once more. "I'm planning to end things with him." Chelsey got mad when she heard that. She finally couldn't hold it in and cursed, "I hope his little brother falls off!" Chapter 6 Chelsey felt a little better after she cursed Hades. Then, she came back to the main topic. "So, I'm guessing you don't want this baby. Do you want me to arrange for a procedure after your checkup tomorrow?" Alanna rubbed her belly and suppressed the pain in her heart. "Okay," she said, a single tear sliding down her face. She felt guilty about the baby. But she had nothing to her name, which meant she also had nothing to give to her baby. She couldn't keep him. She didn't dare to. She was just a regular girl from a regular family. She didn't want her baby to be called an illegitimate child for the rest of its life. There was also no way that Hades would ever acknowledge it. He wouldn't give her a chance to tie him down, whether with love, a family, or a baby. Hades would never allow it. Alanna closed her eyes and wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. … It was in the dark of the night, and Alanna couldn't sleep well at all. She suddenly found herself dreaming. Alanna dreamed that she was a little girl again when Tara was still with her. She followed Tara everywhere she went. One of the places they stayed at the longest was a fishing village by the riverside. That was the first time Alanna ever laid eyes on Hades. Hades wasn't as dark or grim as he was now. Back then, he used to look like a porcelain doll with pretty eyes. She learned later that Hades was there because he was receiving treatment and recovering from an illness. Maybe the recovery process was painful or uncomfortable for him, but Hades was often found sitting on the riverbank weeping silently to himself. Whenever Alanna saw him there, she would bring him a lollipop to cheer him up. At first, Hades refused to acknowledge her presence. Eventually, he would climb up the fence at her house and call her by the name he learned from observing everyone around her. "Mel!" And much later, he was then taken away by a group of people, most probably because he'd recovered completely. Just before he left, Hades had promised her that he would come looking for her. However, that was the last time Alanna saw him for a long time. The next time they met, ten years later, was a complete coincidence. On her 17th birthday, Alanna's younger stepsister said that she'd lost her bracelet at the beach and asked Alanna to help her find it. Alanna recognized Hades at once when she went to the beach. Hades was now 19 years old. He wasn't as naive or babyfaced as last time. Instead, he looked dark and broody. When Alanna saw him, he was marching straight into the raging sea with fierce waves lapping at his body. Without thinking, Alanna ran toward him and grabbed at him, trying to stop him. Hades turned around with a stare so cold and murderous that it didn't seem appropriate for someone his age. Alanna was so shocked that she stumbled backward. He then cackled loudly and continued walking toward the middle of the sea. "The easiest thing to do in the world is die!" Alanna screamed at him, making him stop in his steps. However, just then, a huge wave crashed on Alanna and swept her off her feet. She lost her balance and was immediately submerged underwater. She couldn't remember what it felt like anymore. She did remember struggling, but no matter how she struggled, she just couldn't find anything to grab onto. She was terrified. Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist. She then broke through the water and found herself floating in the sea. Through her blurry vision, she could see Hades' cold eyes staring at her. She didn't know how he brought her back to shore, but the next time she opened her eyes again, she could see his cold, emotionless eyes glaring at her. "You can't even save yourself, yet you still want to meddle in other people's matters of life and death." He then got up and left. "Hades Florentine!" Alanna cried out, instantly waking up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw her phone ringing next to her. It was a call from Chelsey. "I've arranged a slot for you for the procedure. Don't eat or drink anything from now till then, not even water." Alanna recollected her wits before answering Chelsey with a hum. However, she felt a numb feeling in her heart. This was a child she had with Hades, after all. He was someone she'd had a crush on for many years. However, she also knew that she couldn't possibly keep the baby. It wasn't because she was afraid of someone else finding out, but it was because she knew the longer she kept the baby, the harder it was to say goodbye. … Alanna packed up all her things and left the hotel. However, she suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the entrance to the hotel. She wasn't surprised that Hades was able to find her so quickly. There wasn't a single person in Jagersville that Hades couldn't find, as long as he put his mind to it. She just found it weird that he would still want to come looking for her. Didn't she make it clear last night? What was he doing here looking for her, then? Also, she didn't want to see Hades now. It had taken a lot of courage on her part to come to such a decision. She didn't want everything she'd done to be in vain. After all, she turned timid whenever she saw him.		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1176257	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	4/28/25, 10:58 PM	1712967244	1745899117		505		2056673278052074	1	3.969055966053E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210420275240230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Barefoot shoes for better health 😍	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5	https://www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons		1712836063	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435989606_931696965625122_375407036027608490_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IhgFxl2_zkoAb7vS8yS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCz4_8O14WtXJa4C2v0fZjmGdC6GWUx1f3INv06UP64hQ&oe=661FB0B5	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435895720_1119730055941904_8740639153972041351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hFPK8XdpuGEAb4fmhTE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDw8cZ-5LRgp8IJCqIVEStwDlVlne_2DGzDHc6diX77Jw&oe=661FB292			0	3	Goodbye foot pain! Hello all-day comfort.. ☁️👣<br /> <br /> ✅ Walk and move pain-free!<br /> ✅ Recommended by orthopaedists<br /> ✅ 30 days money-back guarantee<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fpages%2F7-reasons&amp;h=AT0Pw8yayCcEM4YvHPW4N6ulU4VysyjXIdqSK8nWrXDSoNUZT1aR4RFbZzQTPSiTo3kkIgDMQAaVcmeVdA14Me4qiljZZdmF27ksJzY_Sp9VsoW4p57GNyTvbQCdrrZhEPzieJpRihb2JvohBmhn9Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
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1176474	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	2/10/25, 6:03 AM	1712967248	1739167413		505		764792155796653	1	3.9327710694995E+14		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	26448950205		0	Free People			6536586034448		freepeople.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://www.freepeople.com/shop/bop-around-romper/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_kxconfid=vx6rprtuq&utm_term={{placement}}		1712956443	26448950205	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885338_1422124628429902_7230103239691037472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zf1w4ahsc6sAb43c9BK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkdSOZzMo2FDKs1Uvge_XQb6_DL_7ad8zJDcAPgQ1sLQ&oe=661F98B1	person_profile	0	Free People	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435778892_441155711698656_6344277189703940786_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7a7otBSZAooAb72VW97&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBI16vffqdkHMvmz7lMHKxds93wrQU7Ghv5MEIevrrvYg&oe=661FA3FA			0	3	This is Free People. Shop the Collection.		Free People		1721616	https://facebook.com/FreePeople	0		SHOP_NOW						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176255	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	2/11/25, 7:21 AM	1712967244	1739280105		505		415149981465103	1	1.4443372428513E+15		1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	198403916683652		0	Barekick			120210420276170230		barekick.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Barefoot shoes for better health 😍	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5	https://www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons		1712836063	1.9840391668365E+14	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437039026_782456030483519_269523748945559023_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JTtFV0KMcqIAb54kmOW&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0cM3iOcfg5HwrFNI83_BFGTy2u1XEImqhZvFykFyF1Q&oe=661FAF58	person_profile	0	Barekick	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436426472_258117650625270_6744857001494245429_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y7R7V-FtgPYAb4Wd4Jt&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDyXJK-zgHgQsDuWyJ1cfcNYeIWKqLgniHAGbwKrxF2uw&oe=661F85B0			0	3	Goodbye foot pain! Hello all-day comfort.. ☁️👣<br /> <br /> ✅ Walk and move pain-free!<br /> ✅ Recommended by orthopaedists<br /> ✅ 30 days money-back guarantee<br /> <br /> 🇺🇸 Free shipping in the US<br /> ➡️ <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barekick.com%2Fpages%2F7-reasons&amp;h=AT2t3fdfHDdO5Uh0Mcop392u9FUaeEFKDUzaXwbjLUeKtX_G6xj0_QR4Itr-KC5mpts3lRICnXwBUkU2Iw0S_NLxeXwCW5ECHeNctuCiE_xhAtg7NSNPpRiCFaWCyD_8zbDrRILKyWQTreOd8qIFGg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barekick.com/pages/7-reasons</a>		Barekick		1584	https://facebook.com/barekick	0		SHOP_NOW						1712818800		View Edit Delete
1177060	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	2/12/25, 6:21 PM	1712967255	1739406109		505		1665191534015373				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207061464230056		beokn.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10750&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712737934	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434478564_399728439508794_8137434131649545740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuPkRHeTmsoAb5zsYqr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCnX4AOw_mLppGpfxVJnTJ2bJhJFKj9twsVQUMaE0Lvng&oe=661F9D82	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027706_1141947913620316_8661617256564442195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q7kga1Ls7V8Ab6Csga1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpAB_-DSwE7Xh8ZaVqTN_L_6meMsbG3x2lG93QqrQJKA&oe=661FB036			0	3	The wind swept through the prison's hallway, chilling to the bone. Drip. Drip. The heavy, slow footsteps echoed alongside the mysterious dripping of water, creating an eerie symphony in the cramped corridor. "That's the girl who hit someone and ran? She looks so young. Pretty, too." "Right? You're new here, so you only know parts of the story. She got locked up when she was just eighteen, right before her college entrance exams." "She's getting out now that her time's up?" "Seems like it. But I don't think life will be easy for her on the outside." The whisper was hushed as if the speaker feared being overheard. Curious, the other guard leaned in and asked, "Why's that?" "The woman she hit was conceived, and tragically, she lost the baby. And to make matters worse, that conceiving woman was from the powerful Hawthorne family." In Brightwood, the Hawthorne name held great influence and power. People spoke of them in hushed tones, as though they were afraid to provoke them. In Brightwood, people often whispered, "Crossing the Hawthornes is scarier than facing the devil himself." With a stern expression, the officer at the door addressed Amber Lewis, "You're free to go." The cold seemed to bite even harder. This winter was unforgiving. Amber's hands tightened and relaxed nervously. Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled as she gathered the courage to step outside. She raised her head and stood motionless, as if time had stopped. Her eyes caught the night sky outside, where a handful of stars twinkled, almost as if they were signaling to her. As if they were whispering— Congratulations, you've made it out at last. Three long years had passed, and finally, she was free, breathing the sweet air of freedom. "Congratulations, you're free to go," a chilling, severe voice said, with a rasp that sent shivers down her spine. Amber's whole body froze. That voice, dark and dreadful, had haunted her dreams, an echo that had penetrated her soul. A black sedan sat in the distance, its window sliding down to reveal a man's face partially obscured by darkness. His hand casually rested on the edge, his fingers long and elegant, the silver ring on his middle finger glinting under the moon's pale light. James Hawthorne. It was him—James! Amber's first instinct was to run! "Grab her." At his command, a group of towering bodyguards jumped out of another vehicle, moving swiftly and forcefully. In an instant, Amber was dragged towards the black car, her knees hitting the ground hard. "Tsk," James scoffed, casually flicking his fingers. "What exactly are you running from?" His laugh was low and scratchy. "Are you scared of me?" Amber trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear. She had every reason to be terrified. She remembered him from the courtroom three years ago, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists clenched tightly as if he wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. He had wished her dead, seeking her life as retribution. "W-What... what do you want?" Amber stammered, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. Her body shook violently, appearing fragile in the grip of the bodyguards. He showed no mercy. His presence was icy, suffocating her with his cold demeanor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until James finally spoke, his voice filled with grief and anger. "You murdered the heir to the Hawthorne family. We had the ultrasound; it was a boy." His narrowed eyes held a vengeful intensity, like a spirit seeking revenge. "Aren't you going to pay for what you've done?" Amber's heart skipped a beat. Trembling, her calm and soft demeanor now overshadowed by terror, her delicate body shook like a leaf in the breeze, and she could barely whisper, "But, I've served my time, I've paid my dues to you, I..." Chapter 2 "Paid?" his voice came out icy. The man turned, his features sharp in the moonlight, handsome yet suffocating. James's voice turned cold and merciless. "How have you paid?" The dead baby was the Hawthorne family's future! Could a mere three-year prison sentence ever settle such a debt? Amber's body shook, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence around her. Her words faltered, her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. "What do you want from me?" she managed to say. James tilted his head slightly. The bodyguard, catching the signal, tossed a document on the floor and forcefully pushed her head down to read the print. In an instant. Amber's face drained of color. She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, and began to fight back, desperate to break free from their grip. "No, this can't be happening..." Her struggle was fierce. Crack! The bodyguard's patience snapped, and he delivered a harsh slap across her face. "Settle down!" The blow sent Amber reeling, her ears ringing. She crumpled to the ground, defeated. Her small stature was no match for the hulking bodyguards. Her face swelled, her lips split, blood trickling down. The pain made her shudder even more. Somewhere in her daze, she thought she heard James let out a weary sigh. The car door swung open. Gleaming leather shoes came into view as he loomed over her, his eyes drilling into her as if she were nothing more than a dirty bug. "In the Hawthorne family," James began, his tone deliberate and dripping with arrogance. He crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers firmly grasping her chin. "We have a strict rule against striking women." His touch was gentle as he traced her bruised cheek, stopping at her bloodied lip. He wiped the blood away with a silk handkerchief, his face emotionless, treating her with a cold intimacy as if she were a cherished possession. "Does it hurt?" he asked, but his voice lacked any genuine concern. Fear was all Amber felt. His words were gentle, but they carried an ultimatum. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as a yes, alright?" "My wife can't have kids anymore, all thanks to you," he sighed with a hint of resignation. "It's only right that I seek you out for this." Amber trembled, too timid to fight back. Her eyes blinked, and tears streamed down her face. She wept silently. A flicker of disgust crossed James's deep eyes, brief yet telling. He dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief, his tone still icy. "No more tears, okay?" Amber's crying only intensified, her tears flowing unchecked. Losing his patience, James pushed her away harshly. "Ah!" She hit the ground, her arm scraping against the rough surface, fresh blood seeping out. As he stood up, he cleaned his fingertips with distaste, yet his words remained arrogantly graceful. "I've given you a chance, now take it." For the first time, he said her name, "Amber, don't bite the hand that feeds you." "I-I've already served my time, I..." Amber's heart pounded, urging her to fight back, but fear held her captive. Facing this unpredictable man, she was lost, unsure of what move to make. She had always been the epitome of excellence—gentle, and composed, her voice a whisper among her peers. Amber was the model child every parent compared their own to, as docile as a kitten curled up comfortably at home. James, a man of his kind, would never have crossed paths with her if fate hadn't thrown them together in that fateful car accident. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered through her fear, "I don't want to..." The winter was harsh that year. The night seemed to engulf the light, darker than ever before. His silhouette loomed tall and imposing. He squinted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Give me an heir, and you're free." His voice cut through the cold air, "I need to use your body." Chapter 3 Amber's signature on the paper had been coerced, and her tears threatened to smudge the ink before the bodyguard quickly dabbed them away. The bodyguard, quick to anger, shoved her head dismissively, "Stop crying. You’re just causing trouble." Caught off guard, Amber stumbled and her head hit the ground, leaving a red mark on her forehead. James barely glanced at her. Without a word, he got into his car. As he drove away, he did not even give her a second look. The window rolled down just enough to reveal his face, his voice as dark and aristocratic as ever. "Remember, you're paying for your sins. Don't even think about escaping. You've done time, you have a record. In Brightwood, I hold the power, and my influence doesn't stop at its borders." He tossed the handkerchief on the ground, his voice cold, yet strangely giving the impression of concern, "Be good, will you?" Amber lay on the ground, her body shaking. The car roared to life and zoomed past. Its tires splashed through a puddle, drenching her without a hint of sympathy. She was soaked from head to toe. Amber shivered with an even deeper chill. She felt utterly alone in the vast emptiness, as fragile as a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea, at the mercy of the waves and ready to capsize with the slightest disturbance. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Long enough for her limbs to grow numb from the cold. Finally, Amber snapped out of her daze and picked herself up off the ground. "No," she whispered to herself, "I'm not alone. I'm not." After all, she had a sister. Megan Lewis. Trusting her memory, Amber found her way home, leaving the prison behind. Brightwood had changed over the past three years. The familiar old buildings were gone, replaced by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds. The streets were no longer lined with the old traffic lights, but with shiny new signs and neon lights that blazed so brightly she could barely keep her eyes open. Amber had a home. Despite the drastic changes, she found her way to her district and stopped in front of the little attic she knew so well. Home. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when— "Ah! You little troublemaker! Are you an idiot? I ask you to dry some radishes, and you smash the jar! Looks like someone's asking to be punished!" The angry voice of a middle-aged woman pierced the air. Amber froze, taken aback. That voice—it was unmistakably her aunt's. "Mom, why waste your breath on an idiot? You know her head's not right," a younger woman's voice added scornfully. "She's not been hit enough, that's the problem! She'd be better off as a pig with that brain of hers!" Then came the sound of a stick swinging and the young girl's screams from the attic, so heart-wrenching they echoed through the streets. Amber's eyes widened in shock. She rushed up the stairs and through the doorway, catching her aunt, Yasmin Zimmer in the act, her hand tangled in Megan's hair, yanking her down to the floor. The rolling pin in Yasmin's grip came down on the girl's body—her belly, her back—in a brutal, chaotic rhythm, each strike more vicious than the last. "Stop it!" Amber screamed. With the next cruel blow aimed at Megan's head, Amber sprinted forward and wrapped her arms protectively around her sister's head. Thud! The rolling pin struck Amber's back instead. Pain exploded through her, and for a moment, the room went black. "Huh? Who's this?" Yasmin's voice dripped with curiosity. A young girl, who had been eating, caught a glimpse of Amber's face and gasped, "Mom! That's Amber, isn't it?" "Amber?! How on earth did you get out? I thought you were stuck in there for good," Yasmin sneered, her voice laced with contempt. Amber had been on her own since her parents passed away, with only Megan, her sister eight years her junior. A tragic accident had left Megan's mind trapped in perpetual childhood, her actions resembling those of a much younger child, which to anyone else appeared as mental impairment. Chapter 4 Three years ago, Amber had faced the music and been locked away, forced to leave ten-year-old Megan in her aunt's care. Now, holding a trembling Megan in her arms, Amber confronted Yasmin. "Aunt, why are you hitting Megan?" She spoke softly, her tone seemingly gentle, but it was a clear stand against the cruelty. Conflict was never Amber's strong suit, she had always been the kind and gentle type. Yasmin momentarily felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished. She started bossing around, puffing herself up with indignation. "Amber? What nonsense are you talking? The kid won't listen, so I step in to discipline her. What's the big deal?" "But you..." Amber tried to interject. Yasmin's voice soared, "Enough with your rambling. You were locked up for three years. Who do you think cared for this idiot? Me! When you begged me to look after her, tears and all, you weren't so high and mighty." Amber's lip quivered. "I paid you..." A very hefty sum. Every last penny her parents had left her. Arrested and desperate, with Megan unable to fend for herself, Amber had no choice but to turn to Yasmin for help. Yasmin, seizing the opportunity, blackmailed Amber for every dime, threatening to abandon Megan if she didn't comply. Cornered and out of options, Amber had no choice but to give in. "Money?" Yasmin sneered, her voice escalating. Yasmin's scowl intensified. "You dare bring up money? Three years of care, hospital bills, medication for her condition—do you think that's free?" "The money ran out a long time ago! She's been nothing but a drain on my wallet, and I've spent more on her than you can imagine!" "Now that you're out, it's time to settle the score. You owe me a hefty debt!" Yasmin's tirade was relentless, leaving Amber reeling. Amber's fists clenched, her mind racing. "I did the calculations. My parents' savings should have been enough to cover Megan's needs until she was thirty. There's no way it's all gone..." "What kind of calculations could you possibly do?" Yasmin's voice cut through like a knife. "Do you think you can keep track of everything? Francesca, show her the bill!" Francesca Lopez, in the midst of her meal, heard the command and immediately dropped her utensils. She hurried to the cabinet, retrieved a thick ledger, and thrust it at Amber. "Take a look, Amber." Amber's hands trembled as she suppressed her anger, flipping through the ledger. It detailed all the expenses for Megan—exorbitant medical costs and a long list of luxury designer bags and clothing. Amber's eyes darted to Megan's outfit, which was clearly too small, barely reaching her wrists that were covered in a web of scars, both old and new. "Megan's clothes are clearly from years ago; they're several sizes too small now," Amber stated, her voice tinged with an unusual hint of fury. She gently touched Megan's scarred wrist, her heart aching. "And why buy expensive bags when Megan never leaves the house? She has no clue about these things," Amber's anger grew. Then she noticed Francesca, decked out in head-to-toe designer logos. "What's gotten into you, you ungrateful brat? I've treated Megan well, and you think I'm in the wrong?!" Yasmin pointed an accusing finger at Amber, her voice rising in a scathing rebuke. Amber, known for her patience, reached her breaking point. Her voice rose sharply, "Then where are all these things you supposedly bought?" "Sold, of course!" Francesca interjected defensively. "Megan's medication costs a fortune. How were we supposed to know if we'd have enough money? When we ran short, we had no choice but to sell them for cheap!" Amber's grip tightened. She could sense they were lying. Chapter 5 What could she possibly do about it though? What was she supposed to do in such a bind? She had never been in a situation like this before. She had no idea how to handle it and couldn't understand why anyone would be so unreasonable. Since her parents passed away, she had been juggling school and using the money they left behind to support herself and her little sister. No one had ever taught her how to deal with these kinds of problems. Amber was the type of person who avoided conflict, never stirred up trouble, and had never been in an argument, let alone a shouting match. She was too gentle, too soft-spoken to ever shout back. Holding Megan close, she spoke with determination, "Forget about the money, but now that I'm here, can you please leave?" Yasmin could not help but smirk at Amber's first few words, thinking that maybe the poor girl had some sense after all. However, as Amber finished her sentence, Yasmin's face twisted with anger. "Leave? Did you forget? You promised me your property, and this house was part of the deal!" Yasmin was known for her fiery temper, and her voice could cut through steel. Now, with a surge of emotion, she shouted, "The house is in my name now! We had a lawyer, and you agreed to it. You signed the papers. It's mine!" Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You..." Three years ago, she was just a high school kid buried in books, oblivious to the world's cunning ways. Yasmin had brought a slick lawyer along, and during the negotiations, Amber had been rushed into signing without a chance to read the fine print. The visit was over before she knew it. Yasmin had been pushy, promising to take care of Megan, and Amber, naive and alone, had signed. That was the only time anyone had come to see her. No one else had bothered since. "Yeah, this house is mine now!" Francesca chimed in with a sneer, looking down at Amber condescendingly. "Amber, we've been taking care of Megan for you. Surely, that's worth something, isn't it? "Let's just say the house is our payback," Francesca declared, storming into a room that resembled more of a storage unit. She quickly rummaged through some items and threw them all at Amber's feet. "All this junk belonged to Megan. She's your problem now. We're done with it, and don't you dare come back asking for anything!" The floor was covered in worn-out clothes, some so old that Amber recognized them from when Megan was just ten. Not a single piece seemed to fit anymore. Poor Megan hadn't had anything new in ages. Amber tightened her grip, feeling Megan tremble in her arms. She whispered, "It's okay, Megan. Don't be scared." "What's taking so long? Get out of here already!" Francesca snapped. Yasmin watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending to be sympathetic. "Don't be too hard on me, Amber. Times are tough. I have my own kids to feed. My son's internship isn't paying well, and Francesca is about to start at a prestigious college. I have to make sure she fits in. Can't have her looking second-rate. Just promise me you won't come begging for help. I'm barely holding on here!" Amber looked down, those harsh words echoing in her mind. She sifted through the mess and retrieved a metal box, clutching it tightly to her chest. "This is all I need. Let's go, Megan." The transfer of the house was done. There was no turning back. She despised the arguing. Locked away for three long years, she had no one to talk to, no shoulder to lean on. She was always hidden in some forgotten corner by herself. As time went on, her once calm and gentle nature faded into silence. She even started to dread speaking. If there was a place to hide, she would dive right in, curl up, and get used to the darkness. She was used to it now. Chapter 6 As Amber and Megan stepped out of the attic, Francesca slammed the door shut with force. The cold wind, like an invisible hand, rushed down Amber's neck, leaving her face pale as a ghost. They were outcasts. Amber reached out, gently stroked Megan's head, and whispered, "Megan, I'm back." Amber possessed a gentle and refined beauty, with delicate features framed by a perfectly oval face that exuded an indescribable serenity. She had a timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic and ethereal beauty often celebrated in paintings and poetry. Her voice, in particular, had a soothing magic to it, calming even Megan, who could barely comprehend her words. "From now on, I will take care of you." Amber embraced Megan, basking in a shared warmth, unsure if it was for Megan or herself. "Megan." Megan, in her innocent daze, nodded blankly. A book rested inside the metal box. Amber discovered a bank card hidden within its pages. Perhaps it was too well-concealed for Yasmin and her daughter to find, or maybe they deemed the old items not worth rummaging through. Regardless of the reason, Amber's tension melted away at the sight of the card. "This was the scholarship I won back in school." Her voice was soft, tinged with happiness, still gentle. "Let's find a new place to call home." It was not a fortune, but it would be enough to get them through the tough times. Amber, with Megan in tow, departed from the bustling area behind them. She balanced a box in one arm while holding Megan's hand with the other. It had been ages since Amber had been a part of the outside world, and it seemed to have moved forward without her. However, she quickly caught up by observing and listening. She managed to rent a cozy little apartment—just fifty square meters—with a compact kitchen and bathroom. It was small, but it had all the necessities. The only hurdle was the single bedroom with only one bed. "How about you and I share the bed?" Amber whispered gently to Megan. Amber picked up a comb and began to untangle Megan's waist-length hair, which had been neglected for far too long. Amber was patient, her touch delicate and caring as she combed through the knots, finally pulling Megan's hair into two neat ponytails. "You look beautiful, Megan," Amber murmured. Megan, who had been lost in a haze, suddenly seemed to come alive. She may not have understood much, but she recognized kindness when she saw it. At Amber's words, her face lit up with a smile that mirrored Amber's own. The next day, Amber and Megan embarked on a small shopping spree. They returned with new clothes for Megan and a few essentials. Once they were home, Megan's voice, still slightly slurred, broke the silence. "Sis, what about you? Don't you need anything?" It was the first time Amber had heard Megan speak after they had been reunited. Her eyes sparkled with joy. It took a moment for her to realize that Megan was concerned about her not having new clothes. "I have clothes," Amber reassured her softly, touched by Megan's thoughtfulness. "These are all for you." However, the truth was, Amber's wardrobe was nearly empty. When Amber set out on the mission, she was only determined to pick up a few things for Megan. She hardly spent any money on herself. She was petite, and after comparing Megan's hand-me-downs to her own frame, she figured a few alterations would do the trick. "Once I find a job and earn some cash, we'll go out and have a feast. Sound good?" she said. "Great!" Megan replied with a smile. While Megan settled into bed, Amber twirled into the kitchen to prepare their simple dinner. The aroma of simmering spices wafted through the cramped apartment. Just as she was about to call Megan to eat, the doorbell pierced the silence, its chime sharp and clear in the small space. Amber took off her apron, dried her hands, and went to see who was at the door. "How can I help you—" she began, but her words trailed off, unfinished. Standing in the doorway was a man with a commanding presence that filled the room. His features were chiseled, his lips pressed together, and the light cast a seductive shadow around his silhouette. He seemed intimidating. Chapter 7 He exuded the charm of a seasoned man, his grace and composure almost convincing her that he was a beacon of positivity. But that's the thing about him—he was cool to the core. "Did you move?" James's voice had a velvety quality, deep and resonant, but with a chilly undertone that sent a shiver down Amber's spine. Panic flooded her face as she remembered the document she had been forced to sign, and she quickly backed away. His icy gaze swept over her, then disdainfully over the tiny fifty-square-meter space they called home. It was clear he could not fathom how anyone could live there. Without a word, he stepped inside, into the place he clearly despised. "Please, have a seat," she said in a hushed voice, her words stumbling over each other. James didn't even spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on Megan, who lay on the bed in the bedroom. Ever vigilant, Amber noticed this and quickly stepped in front, attempting to shield Megan from view. "Everyone else, out," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative. Amber blinked in surprise. "Megan isn't..." "If you're fine with her watching what's about to happen, it's no issue for me," he replied, his tone as cold as ice. In an instant, Amber's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper, as she tried to reason with him, "Megan can't be left alone, she'll wander off and get lost." Without warning, James reached out, his hand closing around her delicate neck, pulling her in close. He leaned in, his breath chilling against her ear, "Remember what I told you? Don't mistake my patience for weakness." She trembled even more. Amber was terrified, but she didn't want Megan to see her fear, nor was she certain if this man would harm Megan. She couldn't take that risk. In the suffocating tension, her voice broke with a sob, "I'll just close the door, alright?" James released his grip on her. Amber quickly backed away, rushing to the bedroom. She wiped away her tears as she went, whispering reassurances to Megan before closing the bedroom door behind her. "Strip," came his cold, commanding voice. Her trembling intensified. When she clenched her hands, her thumbs automatically tucked inward—a telltale sign of her deep-seated anxiety. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. James tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the chair she had offered him. "Do you know how to bend over?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. Amber was at a loss. She was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, her mind and memories frozen at the age of eighteen, despite the three years she had spent behind bars. Back then, her world revolved around nothing but books. So when James forcefully pinned her down on the chair, she reacted like a frightened rabbit, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face flushed with fear. Her clothes remained undisturbed above, but below, she felt a chilling vulnerability. He acted as if he were on a mission, relentlessly pounding her. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face. She bit into her arm to stifle her cries, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, but she didn't release her bite. Her muffled sobs were stifled, mingling with her blood, her fragile frame on the verge of breaking at any moment. The pain was excruciating, worse than the slap from the bodyguard the day before. James looked at her with a hint of surprise. "First time?" His brow furrowed as he observed her trembling. It was a pity, really. He wasn't one to be gentle or compassionate. He did as he pleased, as long as it suited him. Yet, he was taken aback. "I wouldn't have guessed, given your free-spirited nature, that it was your first time." Amber couldn't comprehend his words. All she knew was the agony threatening to consume her. She had no concept of how long the assault lasted; her right arm was now a mosaic of bite marks and blood. All she felt was torment and the piercing disdain in his eyes, the look of contempt as he squinted at her. Or maybe it was hatred, she thought.		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
1176859	1	active	4/12/24, 7:14 PM	2/14/25, 7:42 AM	1712967253	1739540538		505		393567600196027				1712905200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	250753834794512		0	Read freely			120207964908870390		myqweasdzxc.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉		https://myqweasdzxc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10771&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}		1712924199	2.5075383479451E+14	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437407565_3642102952725544_3015401515465879355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uaVAHBfV6loAb6S-5Ga&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlbzKXHWb7SRfsGdnkhWsT2Hxj3rkCXLt4gVzDZ3ot8Q&oe=661FB171	person_profile	0	Read freely	https://scontent.fwbw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904997_799544674987090_4851479168148784371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5NSyeRYFt4Ab6ZvV4c&_nc_ht=scontent.fwbw1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8O3evwy9-8OK3Y2k-wZ5pzoctH9xpcc0FNiHAMHvbGg&oe=661FAD90			0	3	Mason walked out of the bathroom and saw that his luggage was left untouched. It looked like he was going to have to talk with her. He sat on the couch and took a magazine casually. He said after a while, “How’s your father holding up? I heard about what happened that night… I’ve given Ava an earful for it.” He sounded indifferent and insincere. Zoe stopped her chores and looked at him in the reflection of the mirror. Mason was so stunning and elegant. He was wearing a simple bath towel, but he still wore it better than the average guy. Zoe stared at him so long that her eyes welled up. Then, she said calmly, “We’re getting a divorce, Mason.” He was startled. He knew Zoe had been unhappy about his attitude that night. He sent Ava to the hospital the moment he learned about what happened to her family, but she would not accept his help. This was the first time she rebelled against him. She had been submissive all this time. Mason said casually, “A few days ago, you said you wanted to go back to work, and now you want a divorce? “Are you bored with your life as a homemaker? Is that why you want a different experience? “Take a look at the world, Zoe. A lot of people have to work overtime and spend time with insufferable people to make a living. You’re my wife and you live in a mansion, Zoe. What are you unhappy about?” … He sounded cold and heartless. Zoe couldn’t take it anymore. She sneered, “Your wife? Is this your idea of a wife?” She rose suddenly, dragged him to the cloakroom, and slid open the wardrobe door. There was a series of jewelry in there, but they were all locked behind a password. Zoe had no idea what the passwords were because Ava was in charge of them. She pointed at them and said mockingly, “What kind of wife needs to go through procedures with her husband’s secretary in order to use her own jewelry? What kind of wife needs to submit a form to her husband’s secretary for any amount of money? “What kind of wife doesn’t even have enough money to call a cab? Tell me, Mason. Is that what it means to be your wife?”		Read freely		1	https://facebook.com/61557986570531	0		LEARN_MORE						1712905200		View Edit Delete
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